MVR 252 million in income support disbursed to 17,500

The Maldivian government has disbursed MVR 252.5 million as income support 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.

According to the statistics released by Finance Ministry, income support allowance was disbursed to 17,535 applicants by January 21.

The MVR 5,000 income support allowance is disbursed through National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).

Those who have been laid off or put on no-pay leave or lost their source of income will receive the full MVR 5,000, while those who have been subjected to pay or income reductions, resulting in them earning lower than MVR 5,000, will receive the difference.

While only those whose income were effected from March onwards were initially eligible for the allowance, the criteria for eligibility for the allowance was later expanded to allow people whose income have been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic as far back as December 2019, instead of March 2020, to seek income support.

Application income support allowance for the month of December – under the third round of the program – will remain open until the end of January.

Information on applicants granted income support, as well as information on rejected applications and the reasons, are available on the JobCenter portal.