The Fiji National Provident Fund has announced the extension of COVID-19 relief assistance for its members.
Relief assistance for members who qualify under Phase 3 opens today – Thursday, June 3, 2021.
And members who qualify under Phase 2 and the $220 Lockdown relief opens on Wednesday, June 9.
The announcement by the FNPF follows the Government’s announcement of the extension of the phases for two additional payments until the end of June.
Phase 2 Round 6 and lockdown relief
FNPF acting chief executive officer Viliame Vodonaivalu says members who accessed Phase 2 Round 5, will be registered automatically based on the consent provided in their last application.
However, he said members who had contributions paid for February to May 2021 would need to reapply, if they remained unemployed.
He acknowledged the Government’s continued support, especially since majority of the members accessing Phases 2 and 3 were now being subsidised through the top-up.
“More than 59,000 members accessed Phases 2 Round 5 and 3 Round 4. Payments for more than 47,000 of these members have either been partially or fully topped up by Government because their general account balance is insufficient,” said Mr Vodonaivalu said this afternoon.
He said unemployed members accessing Phase 2 Round 6 would qualify for a total payout of $440 that would be paid over two instalments in the month of June.
“The Lockdown relief for working member’s impacted by the containment situation, is also being topped up by Government. Of the 22,013 members that accessed this relief, 7165 have received Government top-up.
“Members who have already accessed the lockdown relief will also be automatically registered. This is especially for members who had applied before the end of the first round on May 31, 2021.
“These members and new applicants will be paid a total of $440, split into two fortnightly payments of $220.
“It’s important to note that the lockdown relief is not open to members’ currently accessing phases 2 or 3 and vice versa. Members can only access one relief at a time.”
The FNPF will inform members via SMS blast if their applications will be automatically registered for Phase 2 Round 6 and for Lockdown Round 2.
Both relief will open on June 9 and close for submissions on June 25.
Phase 3 Round 5
Members who qualify under Phase 3 Round 5 will have to re-apply to ensure their employers select the category of reduced hours that are applicable to them.
The payout for those in this category is $44 to $176 per cycle for two fortnights.
Those who had their wage rate or salary reduced will now qualify for $110 or $220 per cycle for two fortnights – depending on the percentage reduction they fall under.
“Employers must ensure that they are correctly selecting the assistance category for their staff so that it reflects their current arrangement.”
Phase 3 Round 5 will open from June 3 and final date of submission is June 22..
Phase 4 Round 3
The Fund is also activating another round of Phase 4 withdrawal for members who were unemployed from January 1, 2010, to September 30, 2019, and remain unemployed.
Mr Vodonaivalu said this also included taxi, minivan or hire vehicle drivers and small business operators.
He said to qualify, the member must have at least one contribution between 2010 to 2019, and must have a minimum general account balance of $85 and they could apply for a lump sum payment of $50 to $440.
Phase 4 Round 3 opens on June 11 and will close on June 30. There is no government top-up for this phase.
