|
Thu, 29 Jul 2010
SUVA, Fiji ( FIJI SUN) --- Retirees are turning to the Social Welfare Department for assistance after using up their retirement funds from the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF).
This revelation was made yesterday by Permanent Secretary for Social Welfare, Govind Sami.
Mr Sami said this is due to the fact that most of the retirees choose to withdraw all their money at once.
“We have come across many cases in which these retirees come begging for us to give them assistance,” Mr Sami said.
“They come with all these excuses about using up their money for their children’s education and so forth but the reality is that they have no more money left.
“They withdrew all their money at once and within three years they are back knocking on our door.”
Mr Sami said the Fund has put restrictions on partial withdrawals. “They should allow for a certain amount to be given out when they reach the 55,” he said.
Mr Sami said all those retirees that have come asking for assistance have been turned away.
“Assistance from the Social Welfare is only provided on the undertstanding that the people are extremely poor. It is given to those who are aging, deserted by spouse, single mothers or those whose breadwinners have died,” he said.
|
