COVID-19 Relief Assistance for Fiji National Provident Fund members has been extended and will re-open on 27 September 2021 for first time applicants only, the fund said in a statement today.
The application period will end on 1 October with payments scheduled for 6 and 26 October, 2021.
FNPF Chief Executive Officer Viliame Vodonaivalu said the extension of the relief would enable members who missed the 17 September deadline, to submit their applications.
“The Fund acknowledges that some members were unable to submit applications due to issues beyond their control so we’ve extended the deadline to enable them to apply.
“We are also mindful that with things slowly returning to normal, some members would have been weighing their options as well as prospects to earn money and missed the opportunity to apply for their FNPF relief funds.”
FNPF has paid out $5.3 million to 6,762 members (Phases 2, 3 & 4 and Voluntary members) for the first payment cycle and these members can now expect their second payment next month, instead of November.
Government assisted members can opt for FNPF Relief
The Fund is also allowing members who have already received the first payment of $360 from the Government Unemployment Assistance, to apply during the extended period of the Fund’s Unemployment relief.
This includes members whose applications were initially declined by the Fund as they had already applied for and received the first payment of the Government-funded assistance.
Members who now opt for the FNPF Relief will not qualify for the second round of the Government assistance.
“These members are aware that they have sufficient General Account balance for this relief and would like to access it instead of completing the government unemployment assistance. However, they will still need to meet the requirements in order to apply.”
“These members will receive $360 less than the amount payable for the phase they qualify for. This means that a member applying for phase two and qualifies for the full amount payable, which is $2,640, will instead receive a total of $2,280.”
Recovery of funds
“We also have cases where the member was paid $360 from Government and also received the first instalment of the FNPF COVID-19 Relief. The amount of $360 will be recovered from their final payment and put back into their General Account.
“If the balance to be paid after the recovery is less than $360, then no further payment will be made to the member.”
Members must submit their application on the myFNPF mobile app and for Phase 3 applicants (reduced hours or salary), this must be done through their employer on the Employer Portal.
The application period for these members also opens on 27 September and closes on 1 October 2021 – with payments scheduled for 6 and 26 October, 2021.
Payment brought forward
The second payment cycle for members already accessing the FNPF relief will now be moved forward by a month to 26 October 2021, instead of 24 November, 8 December and 22 December 2021 as initially scheduled.
“The changes in payment dates is in response to requests from members and we have responded accordingly.”
