TAWAU, 14 Sept 2008: Poor families with children aged 18 and below, are eligible to apply for monthly aid of RM100 for each child from the Social Welfare Department.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said however, the amount was limited to a maximum of RM450 for each family as provided for in Budget 2009.
"The amount cannot exceed RM450. Let’s say a family has five children below the aged of 18, we will only give them RM450 monthly," she told reporters after visiting several old folks homes here today.
She hoped community leaders would begin identifying eligible families in their constituencies and inform the ministry’s agencies as soon as possible because the approval process would take at least two months.
Meanwhile, Ng said that under the Budget, the ministry had also allocated RM300 as monthly aid for childless senior citizens aged 60 and above.
She said the disabled who earned less than RM1,200 monthly were also eligible to apply for RM300 monthly aid under the OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya or the disabled) Working Aid Scheme.
"If they earn less than RM1,200 monthly, they can apply for the aid and we will give them RM300 monthly. We want to encourage the OKU to work as hard as others and be independent.
"This is productive welfare. If you do not work, I will not give even a single sen to you," she said.
Ng said a family earning less than RM3,000 but had a disabled member who needed constant care could also apply for OKU care aid.
She said under the scheme, the family would be given RM300 monthly but it could not utilise the money to hire a foreign helper. – Bernama
