The issuance of monthly benefits to individuals with disabilities through the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.) is set to begin in July. 

Lemalu Selesitina Meni-Reti, the Chief Executive Officer of S.N.P.F., confirmed this in an interview with the Samoa Observer last Friday. Lemalu clarified that the funds originate from the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development’s (M.W.C.S.D.) budget, and their role is solely to administer distribution through their established system.

“We will collaborate with M.W.C.S.D. to distribute these disability benefits,” Lemalu stated. “This distribution process will commence in July of this year, similar to how we distribute benefits to pensioners.”

This adjustment was specified in the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill 2023, presented and debated in Parliament in June of the preceding year.

The proposed changes suggest that funds designated for individuals with disabilities in Samoa will be distributed using the same system used by S.N.P.F. for disbursing pensions to Samoan citizens aged 65 and above.

This initiative was emphasised in the manifesto of the ruling party before the election. 

However, the legislation was only introduced in June of last year, while the Government had already begun distributing funds to people with disabilities in the previous fiscal year without specific legislation to oversee or regulate the distribution.

The M.W.C.S.D. had been distributing the disability benefits fund since 2022. 

These actions prompted questions in the Legislative Assembly during discussions on the bill. 

The amendments specify that individuals with disabilities must register their names with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and provide confirmation reports from doctors and church ministers.

They will receive $100 monthly, with the government providing these funds to S.N.P.F. for distribution among registered citizens using their established pension distribution system. 

Individuals born with disabilities are eligible for these benefits until they reach 64 years old, at which point they transition to receiving pension benefits upon turning 65. This regular support is intended to assist individuals with disabilities in Samoa, ensuring they have a consistent income stream similar to pensioners.

A total of $2 million tala was allocated for the Disability Benefit Fund in the fiscal year 2023-2024.

The Government decided to engage a New Zealand-based company to replace the aging Samoa Senior Citizens Benefit Fund (S.C.B.F.) AS400 system and integrate the Disability Benefit Fund (D.B.F.) into the new system. 

This decision was finalised on 19 April 2023, with GenCap being the sole bidder for the project. The contract amount is NZD$1,185,365 (equivalent to SAT$1,956,507.756).

The decision to upgrade the system handling these benefits reflects efforts to modernise and improve efficiency in managing social welfare funds in Samoa.