Covid-19: MVR 242 million issued as income support allowance

The Ministry of Finance disbursed MVR 242.3 million as income support allowances up until January 14.

Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Finance revealed that a total of 55,725 applications were issued, and the ministry had issued allowances to a total of 17,410 individuals and households affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic by last Thursday.

Over the one-week period up until January 14, MVR 15 million was disbursed for the implementation of the income support allowances and a majority of spending recorded over the week from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) was for the issuance of income support allowances.

Introduced under the government’s economic relief package following the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the income support allowance is being issued since 20 May 2020. The goal of the economic relief package was to ensure job continuity for Maldivians, at a time large-scale terminations and wage cuts have taken place.

A monthly income of MVR 5,000 is provided under specific conditions. Those who have been terminated, put on no-pay leave or suspended from their jobs are eligible for the allowance. This includes individuals in probation and temporary positions.

Although income support was initially to be issued for a three-month period, authorities later decided to continue issuing allowances until the end of 2020.

A total of MVR 45,000 is provided under the nine-month allowance, between April - December 2020. It aims to provide financial assistance to those who have had their lives and income affected by the pandemic and are unable to meet essential needs such as settling rent payments and others. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 65 years and employed in the Maldives by 1 December 2019.

To apply, individuals have been urged to report their employment situation, if affected by the pandemic, on the online form found on the Job Center website. Users are required to sign up for an eFaas account.

The ministry is currently accepting applications for income support allowances for the month of December, with the deadline set at 31 January 2021.