Black text on yellow screen reads, "The Samoa Disability Cash Benefit, a first of its kind in the country, was established in 2021 by the Samoan government to provide financial assistance of 100 Tala (approx. $37 USD) in monthly assistance to residents with disabilities."
"The benefit is intended to improve the standard of living for persons with disabilities, who are more likely to have higher health needs and costs, more likely to need to pay for assistive devices, and less likely to have a steady income."
"Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA), National Advocacy Organization of Persons with Disabilities, had been advocating for years for the establishment of disability benefits."
Setu Tiatia, a member of NOLA, sits in a wooden chair, speaking to camera. He is a Samoan man wearing a red patterned shirt, sitting inside of a house.
Metusla Sufia, a member of NOLA wearing a shirt with a red leaf pattern, sits in front of a wall decorated with a blue floral pattern, speaking to camera.
Two people walk on either side of Metusla, showing him how to use a white cane.
Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, the General Manager of NOLA, sits in a chair speaking to camera. She is wearing a light blue dress, a white necklace, and black sunglasses.
NOLA members check-in at a meeting.
A screenshot of a news article with the headline "Supplementary Budget Funnels More Funds to Vulnerable Groups."
Footage of a clinic in Samoa. People wait in line to speak with medical professionals wearing personal protective equipment.
A group of one-story buildings in Samoa. A car is parked in a sandy driveway in front of one building.
Photos of Setu, wearing a white dress shirt with a tie and a white sarong, standing with other men in front of a church.
Black text on yellow screen reads "Since 2021, NOLA and the Ministry of Women have been tasked by the government to register the names of Samoans with disabilities for the benefit scheme. Their list is sent to the Ministry of Finance, which then disperses the funds."
Photos of NOLA members gathering at meetings.
Black text on yellow screen reads, "Disability advocates hope that the government will consider a gradual increase of the current cash allowance of 100 Tala a month."
"While the average weekly household income in Samoa is 757 Tala, according to the 2018 Samoa Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the monthly disability stipend of 100 Tala amounts to just 25 Tala a week."
Photos of NOLA members.
A blind man shows Metusla how to unfold a white cane.
Metusla uses a white cane and holds on to the arm of a woman as he walks down concrete stairs.
The Samoan inter-island ferry arrives at a ferry terminal.
Black text on yellow screen reads, "The Samoa Elderly Pension Scheme provides free inter-island travel and free medical expenses in addition to a monthly cash benefit of 200 Tala."
A photo of NOLA employees in a meeting at the Samoa parliament building.
Mataafa Faatino steps out of a white van and uses a white cane as she walks away from the van.
Metusla uses a white cane to go down the front steps of a house.
Black text on yellow screen reads, "NOLA recommends that language of guiding legislation should be compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (U.N.C.R.P.D.) and that the disability community should continue to have input on the implementation and any future legal framework of the benefit."
A photo of parliament members sitting in the parliament chambers at a session discussing the amendment for the National Disability Benefit Scheme on June 16, 2023.
A photo of Honorable Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio'o, the Minister of Women, Community, and Social Development, speaking to the parliament.
Black text on yellow screen reads, "The Samoan government is now in the process of amending existing legislation to include a new provision which will establish legal framework for the National Disability Benefit scheme."
Fade to black. Text on screen reads "Copyright 2023, SBPA. All rights reserved.
Made with support from the Disability Justice Project and the Disability Rights Fund.