The number of people registered for the Samoa government monthly disability benefit scheme has more than doubled since May 2022 causing Cabinet to endorse an $800,000 tālā top up to meet payments for April to June 2024.
Samoa Observer newspaper reports the Minister of Women Community and Social Development Mulipola Anarosa Molioo–Ale explained the 2023–2024 financial year budget set aside $2 million tālā for the disability scheme but further funding was needed for the increase in registrations.
The Minister assured that any persons with disabilities registered at the time to receive the benefit will get the payments for the months that were missed when the allocation ran out.
The Samoa Bureau of Statistics survey in 2021 noted close to three per cent of Samoa’s population aged five years and above are persons with disabilities equivalent to 5000 people of the total population at the time.
The disability benefit scheme was initiated by the new Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Administration in July 2021 setting aside $3 million tālā for it.
The funding approved in the 2024/2025 budget dropped to $2 million tālā despite the increase in registrations.
The government has moved the disability benefit to be administered and distributed through the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) system from July this year.
