On Thursday, 25 December, the Muizzu government announced an increase in the monthly financial assistance available to single parents, raising the maximum allowance to MVR 15,000 under newly published amendments. The last major revision to the scheme was six years ago, on 20 October 2019, when the allowance was increased to a range of MVR 3,000 to MVR 10,000. With the latest amendment, the ceiling has risen by an additional MVR 5,000.
Under the updated regulation, eligible single parents were to receive MVR 3,000 per child per month for up to four children, and MVR 1,000 per month for each additional child beyond four. The maximum monthly support was set at MVR 15,000, with an annual limit of MVR 180,000 per applicant.
However, the following day, on Friday, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) announced that the maximum benefit had been reduced to MVR 12,000. Under the revised amendment, no additional funds will be provided for families with more than four children, and the maximum benefit is now capped at MVR 12,000, calculated at MVR 3,000 per child for up to four children.
Earlier, in October 2024, President Muizzu had announced that the allowance for single parents would be increased starting from January 2026, and the allocation was included in the state budget for the upcoming year.
According to the latest statistics from NSPA, there are 2,895 single mothers or fathers living in impoverished conditions, with financial assistance currently being provided to 4,940 children.
The sudden reversal has left many questioning the government’s commitment to supporting single-parent families and the reliability of its promises regarding social welfare programs.
