Single parent allowance ceiling reduced to MVR 12,000 in new change

A new change has been brought to the amendment on the regulation governing monthly financial assistance available to single parents, reducing the maximum allowance entitled per month from MVR 15,000 to MVR 12,000.

The last major revision to the scheme was six years ago, on October 20, 2019, when the allowance was increased to a range of MVR 3,000 to MVR 10,000. Thursday’s amendment raised the ceiling by an additional MVR 5,000, coming up to MVR 15,000.

According to the amendment, eligible single parents will receive MVR 3,000 per child per month for up to four children, and MVR 1,000 per month for each additional child beyond four. The maximum monthly support is capped at MVR 15,000, while the annual limit is MVR 180,000 per applicant.

The amendment is set to take effect starting next year.

However, the amendment was publicized with a new change on Friday.

The updated amendment redacted the provision which stated that MVR 1,000 would be provided for each additional child beyond four. It further states that single parents will receive MVR 3,000 per child per month for up to four children.

Increasing support for single parents is a pledge made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. In this regard, the President has pledged to increase the maximum ceiling for single parent allowance up to MVR 12,000.

Latest figures from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) show that 2,895 single parents currently live below the poverty line, and 4,940 children receive financial assistance through the program. NSPA spent MVR 4.94 million on single parents and their children during the past month.