NSPA to Rebuild Monitoring Unit After $648,500 Paid to Deceased Recipients

The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) is reviving its defunct Monitoring Section after discovering that over USD 648,500 in social assistance funds were erroneously paid into the accounts of deceased individuals. The agency, which provides critical financial aid to low-income single parents, persons with disabilities, and caregivers of orphaned children, revealed that the dissolution of the monitoring unit in 2020 created a systemic gap in oversight. This lack of supervision allowed ineligible payments to continue unchecked for years. NSPA Chief Executive Officer Aminath Shirna told PSM News that the hiatus in monitoring led to significant financial losses for the state. Out of approximately 15,000 registered beneficiaries, the agency identified more than 700 individuals who had passed away but continued to receive government aid. Under the previous framework, the Monitoring Section maintained regular updates on beneficiaries, including residents of the Guraidhoo Centre, to track changes in income or living status. Once these operations ceased, the agency lost its capacity to flag deceased recipients or altered financial circumstances, resulting in the widespread misallocation of public funds. Shirna emphasized that monitoring is one of the most vital components of the social assistance program. She stated that the agency is now actively working to re-establish the unit and strengthen the overall verification system to prevent further leakage of state resources. By restoring timely updates on beneficiary status, the NSPA aims to ensure that essential financial support reaches only those who are eligible and in genuine need, safeguarding the integrity of the national social protection safety net.