THE Government has ended its Social Welfare Insurance Scheme after paying about $60 million in premiums over eight years, with only $33.8 million reaching beneficiaries through claims, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to Assistant Minister for Agriculture Inosi Kuridrani on how families affected by the cessation could access funeral, accident and fire assistance, Ms Kiran said the scheme was no longer an efficient use of taxpayers’ money.
“Over the past eight years, the government has diligently paid approximately $60 million in hard earned taxpayers funds to Fiji Care Insurance,” Ms Kiran said.
“However, deeper dive into the metrics reveal a stark and troubling imbalance.
“Out of that $60 million, only $33.8 million actually reached our citizens as direct payouts.”
She said Government paid $7.7 million in premiums in 2025-2026, while only $3 million was paid in claims.
“On average, a mere 56 per cent of the total funds paid out by the government ended up in the hands of the beneficiaries.”
Ms Kiran said the scheme covered about 100,000 welfare recipients but processed an average of only 5000 claims annually.
“We are paying massive premium blocks for a system where 95 per cent of the population see no tangible touch point or benefit in any given year.”
She said personal accident claims were particularly low, with only four paid nationwide in 2022-2023 at a total cost of $10,500.
“So, for six years, we have been holding millions in public capital hostage for an accident cover that is virtually untouched.”
Ms Kiran assured recipients that ending the insurance scheme would have minimal impact, with Government continuing direct social welfare assistance through its six existing schemes.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Inosi Kuridrani.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
