The government will begin distribution of 2022 pension booklets and the one-off $25,000 COVID cash grant for pensioners from Monday.
This was announced on Friday by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS), which stated that the rollout of the cash grant is expected to benefit pensioners as well as public assistance recipients, and persons living with disabilities.
In a press release, the ministry noted that thousands of persons are expected to benefit, with pensioners being able to collect their 2022 pension books at the same time. The grant, which will be given in the form of vouchers, will be valid until November 30 and recipients are therefore advised to cash them before then.
Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud was quoted in the release as saying: “I want to make this distribution safe, seamless and hassle-free for recipients and we are trying to avoid people making several trips to uplift these vouchers.” She further indicated that this will be the first time that pensioners will be able to receive their pension books so early for the upcoming year.
The release also advised persons to check the media and read the flyers which will be circulated in their respective communities in order to know the distribution dates and which centres to go to.
The initiative covers persons who are registered on the Ministry’s database as Minister Persaud indicated that persons living with disabilities who have not yet registered with the MoHSSS can do so through its data collection officers based at their countrywide offices.
Meanwhile, distribution dates at post offices and entities like MoneyGram, Western Union, and Sure Pay, are from October 4 to 9 in regions Four and Seven. Regions One and Nine will begin distribution in some locations. Distribution in regions Five and Six will run from October 11 to 16, while distribution in regions Three and Ten will run from October 18 to 23, with Region Eight also commencing in some locations on those dates.
Pensioners who utilise the banking system will receive the cash grant via direct deposit in the month of October.
According to the release, residents of hinterland regions One, Eight, and Nine will be informed of specific delivery locations by officers in their regions through a direct delivery system. Should anyone miss the specified dates in October, both the pension books and cash grant vouchers will be available throughout November at the ministry’s offices countrywide.
