Kota Kinabalu: Welfare aid recipients under the General Welfare Services Department (JPKA) are advised to report themselves to their respective District Welfare Offices every three months in order to remain eligible for aid.
Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya said this is due to JPKA’s system that updates recipient data information automatically in order to avoid leakage.
“As a control measure to prevent leakage or overpayment to the ineligible or deceased, all recipients need to report to their respective district welfare offices every three months.
“If they fail to report within three months, the system will automatically release the recipient’s name regardless of whether the recipient still needs assistance or otherwise,” he said in response to Tempasuk Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari.
Mohd Arsad had asked what the Government’s initiatives were to update its application systems, especially for senior citizens, single mothers and the disabled, in view of how some of them were left out of the system despite still needing the aid.
“The system is updated by taking into account remarks from the National Audit Office, especially during the self-reporting period by aid recipients.
“The process of reviewing the recipient is done at the end of the three-month period in case there is a complaint received by the District Welfare Office.
“This determines whether the recipient is still eligible and suitable for continued assistance or otherwise,” Shahelmey explained.
Additionally, Shahelmey also urged recipients to renew their assistance applications before the expiration period, which is within 24 months for State Welfare Assistance and 12 months for Federal Welfare Assistance.
To a supplementary question by Kepayan Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, Shahelmey said the recipient does not necessarily have to be at the District Welfare Office physically to report themselves.
Jannie had pointed out that many aid recipients live in hard-to-access areas which may deter them to be physically present at the office.
“For the purpose of notification, we only need either the recipient or their authorised representative to contact the District Welfare Office. It does not have to be done physically, online notification is also accepted.
“The purpose is to ensure that there is no leakage in the disbursement of aid provided by the Government,” he said.
For the record, Shahelmey said the National Audit had remarked that there was an overpayment of 61 recipients as of September 2022.
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