Income support allowance disbursed to 255 applicants

The Finance Ministry, on Wednesday, announced 255 people have received income support, an allowance introduced to provide financial support to the people whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic so they are able to meet their essential needs.

Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon that the government has disbursed MVR 1.06 million as income support allowance to 255 applicants through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said in a press conference at two weeks back that government began disbursing income support allowance on May 20.

People who have been laid off, suspended, forced to accept no-pay leave, or forced to accept pay cuts, and self-employed workers who have had their earnings affected from March 1, 2020 are eligible for the allowance.

The MVR 5,000 allowance will be awarded for three months; April, May and June.

Applications must be submitted to the JobCenter.

People whose employment situation was affected from March 1 to April 30 need to file applications by May 30.

People whose employment situation was affected from May 1 to May 30 will need to file applications by June 7.

People whose employment situation was affected from June 1 to June 30 will need to file applications by July 7.

According to the guideline on disbursement of income support allowance, anyone who was employed either on permanent or non-permanent basis by March 1, 2020, regardless of whether or not the person had an employment contract is eligible for the allowance. This includes those on probation, and non-permanent employment positions must be their sole source of income.

Those who have been laid off or put on no-pay leave will receive the full MVR 5,000 income support allowance.

Meanwhile, those who have pay cuts will be eligible for the allowance if their reduced pay is lower than MVR 5,000, and even if they reduced pay is lower than MVR 5,000, they will not be eligible the full allowance, but the difference.

Similarly, if the applicant has an additional income source and if that additional income source is lower than MVR 5,000 per month, the applicant will not be eligible for the full allowance, but the difference.

And if the additional income source exceeds MVR 5,000 per month, the applicant will not be eligible for the income support allowance.

Self-employed individuals are also eligible for the allowance.

According to the policy, self-employed individuals who have not received an income or whose income has been adversely affected after March 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for the allowance.

Those who have not received an income are eligible for the full MVR 5,000.

Meanwhile, those adversely affected are eligible for the allowance if their reduced income is lower than MVR 5,000, and even if they reduced income is lower than MVR 5,000, they will not be eligible the full allowance, but the difference.

Similarly, if the self-employed individual in question has an additional income source and if that additional income source is lower than MVR 5,000 per month, he/she will not be eligible for the full allowance, but the difference.

And if the additional income source exceeds MVR 5,000 per month, the self-employed individual will not be eligible for the income support allowance.

Only Maldivian nationals between the ages of 18 years to 65 years who were locally employed at least up until March 1, 2020 are eligible for the allowance.