Assessing the household benefits of the senior citizens grant(SCG);a study of households with scg beneficiaries in Okoritok parish and Ariamareng village

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the household benefits of the senior citizens grant (SCG) with focus on households with SCG beneficiaries in Okoritok Parish and Ariamareng village. The study was guided by three objectives namely to explore the asset accumulation obtained by the senior citizens grant (SCG) beneficiaries, to find out how the senior citizens grant has reduced vulnerabilities in beneficiaries households and to understand how the senior citizens grants has improved on the lives of beneficiaries. The study was purely qualitative in nature and employed a purposive sampling strategy to identify the respondents. The sample size of the study was relatively small with a total number of eleven primary respondents and two secondary respondents (key informants). Data was collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis method. The findings of the study were presented in narrative form so as to enhance quicker and better understanding of the household benefits of the senior citizens grant. The study findings highlighted that the senior citizens grant beneficiaries have been able to acquire a number of assets including iron sheets, radios, farm land among others. The study further highlighted that the livelihoods of the beneficiaries has been boosted by reducing on household vulnerabilities as well as engaging in small enterprises to improve on the lives of the beneficiaries. The study concluded with recommending the need for an increment of the funds provided to the beneficiaries. The current amount provided to the beneficiaries is less than USD 20 which cannot cater for most of the needs of the beneficiaries considering the current economic trends.