Registrations Underway for Child Wellbeing Beneficiaries

By Jeannie Penehuro/

Apia, SAMOA – 24 September 2026 – The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs has started processing registrations for the Child Wellbeing Benefits Scheme, beginning with the Vaimauga districts moving towards Faleata and across Upolu.

Parents and guardians can also register at the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs office at To’oa Salamasina Hall in Sogi.

The Ministry has confirmed that children aged between birth and 35 months, or two years and 11 months, must provide the required documents when registering.

These include a birth certificate, immunisation certificate, bank statement and identification documents for the parents or guardians caring for the child.

Parents and guardians can obtain immunisation certificates from their nearest hospital if the child has a Child ID Number recorded in the Tamanu System.

Children who had not reached the age of three by 1 July 2026 are eligible for the Child Wellbeing Benefits.

Under the programme, children born from 2 July 2023 must be Samoan citizens and must have completed their one-month immunisation checks to qualify.

Children born from 1 July 2026 onwards are eligible for a $200 Baby Bonus Payment.

Health milestones linked to the Benefits Scheme
The programme links continued payments to four health milestones and the required immunisation checks.

• At one month: Children receive $100 after providing a birth certificate and completing the Hepatitis B immunisation.
• At nine months: Children receive $100 after completing their six-week and 14-week immunisations.
• At 20 months: Children must have completed their 12-month and 15-month immunisations to continue receiving the $100 benefit.
• At 30 months: Children must complete an immunisation check and receive a further $100.

The Ministry has made it clear that children who have not completed the required immunisations will not receive the $100 benefit.

The Ministry was in Savai‘i from 14-19 September to roll out registrations across the island.

According to statistics reported on the Ministry’s official Facebook page for the period from 14 to 19 September 2026, about 30% of eligible children had submitted registrations.

Based on the Samoa Bureau of Statistics 2021 estimates, a total of 1,102 children from the 20 districts had submitted registrations out of an estimated 3,458 children.

More registrations were being processed during the 14 to 19 September period.

Registration in Upolu began on 21 September and will continue until 30 October 2026.

The Ministry encourages the public to check their official facebook page for more information regarding the Child Wellbeing Benefit Registration.