Siblings made orphans by COVID-19 receive monthly SOCSO aid

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 -- Eight young siblings who were orphaned by the death of their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic received survivor’s pension benefit, among others, from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) today.

SOCSO chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the siblings, aged between four and 19, were eligible to receive the benefit under the disability scheme as well as the dependants’ benefit under the occupational disaster scheme that their late parents contributed to.

“Both of these benefits will be paid monthly until the siblings reach 21 years of age or until they complete their first degree,” he said after visiting the siblings today.

He added they had also received financial aid amounting to RM4,000 under SOCSO’s funeral management benefit.

He also presented contributions under SOCSO’s temporary disablement benefit that their late mother was eligible to receive throughout her treatment period at the hospital, as well as food basket assistance to the siblings.

The siblings’ father, Ben Yajeed Bernie, 45 breathed his last on July 16 at Selayang Hospital, while their mother Noraini Ibrahim, 43 passed away three days later at Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Ben Yajeed was believed to have been infected with the virus from Noraini who contracted the disease at work.

Previously, the Pahang state government had also offered the siblings a unit of Pahang People's House worth RM65,000, which would be constructed in their mother’s hometown at Felda Kota Gelanggi 2 in Jerantut.

The siblings Nazurah Nabilah, 19, Muhammad Muzakkir, 18, Nurhani Nabilah, 16, Nurnasuhah Nabilah, 14, Muhammad Benjamin, 13, Muhammad Bennazir Sulaiman, 10, Nur Rawdhah Nabilah, 8 and Nur Qurratu Ain Nabilah, 4, are now living with their aunt in Rawang, Selangor.

According to SOCO, survivors’ pension is payable to the eligible dependants of an insured person who dies irrespective of the cause of death not related to employment, while dependants’ benefit under the occupational disaster scheme would be paid to eligible dependants of the insured person who dies as a result of an employment injury.

-- BERNAMA