BUKIT MERTAJAM: Bringing in around RM100 or more a day selling Indian economy rice, S. Vijayaletchime's life took a turn when she met with an accident and had to sit out a few months of work.

As the sole breadwinner in the family, with her husband helping her man the stall, the accident posed a significant challenge.

"In August last year (2024), my husband and I were heading home on his motorcycle after buying a new blender needed for the stall when a car struck us.

"We were hit by a car near a petrol station.

"My husband was unharmed but I had injuries to my knee and hip, requiring three months of bed rest.

"This derailed our income as I need to cook and was told not to do strenuous activities," she said when met at her flat during the handing over ceremony of the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) benefits under its Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) in Machang Bubok on Thursday (July 10).

The 40-year-old received RM13,354.29 in benefits in lieu of three months’ medical leave.

The mother of two said while her daughter is married, her son is only 17 years old and in school, which means there were monthly expenses they needed to meet.

"I can make around RM7.50 per plate that I sell and on a good day can even take home RM150, so it was difficult for us.

"My son-in-law and family members helped out with our finances but it was still difficult as we had to take money from others and it was not enough.

"I am glad to be better and managed to resume work in December last year (2024)," she said.

She found out that Perkeso covered such incidents through a friend and was grateful that it was an easy process to make the application.

“I did not sign up for Perkeso, but all registered hawkers (under the Seberang Perai City Council) here in Bukit Mertajam have been signed up for it by our MP Steven Sim for free.

"I was unaware of the perks until someone told me I could claim for my loss of income.

"The money came in handy and helped me settle some debts and manage my finances," she said.

Sim, the Bukit Mertajam MP, who handed over the mock cheque to Vijayaletchime, said he had covered the annual contribution for some 3,000 traders last year.

"This is the second year I am doing this.

"We renewed 1,976 contributions this month, while 205 others opted to pay the RM70 on their own," he said.

Sim, who is also the Human Resources minister, urged more self-employed individuals, part-timers, and hawkers to sign up, calling it an important safety net when the unexpected happens.

"I urge everyone who is self-employed to contribute as it keeps you protected if anything untoward were to happen.

"I want to remind people who are contributing that you are entitled to claim as well as many are unaware of the perks," he said.