21st December 2015
Government is pleased to announce that from Tuesday 22 December 2015, all beneficiaries receiving the Old Age Pension, Child Benefit, Infirm and Destitute payments from the Cook Islands Government will receive a $50 Christmas Bonus.
The payment will be made into the Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) account of each beneficiary from Tuesday onwards. The Christmas Bonus has been paid each year just before Christmas for over 10 years to assist beneficiaries during the busiest period in the Cook Islands.
According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Albert Nicholas, “many of our families are facing hardship and at the same time need to make contributions to various family and community events. Government intends to provide assistance to families in this time of need so that the celebration around the birth of Christ is indeed a time of joy”.
The Christmas Bonus was approved by Parliament in the 2015-16 Budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with an allocation of $300,000. It is expected that 5,436 beneficiaries on Rarotonga and the Pa Enua will be eligible to receive the $50 Christmas Bonus.
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