Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
Human Services Ministry reviews public assistance programme
All applicants may not be eligible – Minister Manickchand
In order to ensure the authenticity of the situation of individuals and allow them to become eligible to access the public assistance programme of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, a revaluation process has commenced.
Lorna Robertson
Minister with responsibility for the Ministry of Social Security, Priya Manickchand, disclosed yesterday that the process, which is recommended by law, is undertaken every six months; thus no individual is guaranteed the assistance, even if afforded it in the past.
According to her, the process is characteristic of an investigation which is conducted by a group of persons who make up a ‘community board.’ The minister pointed out that there are such boards countrywide. They are tasked with confirming that individuals are in fact in a poverty-stricken situation and thus are in need of public assistance, she added.
Each year, the process is engaged in January and June to ensure that persons are not receiving the Government assistance under false pretence.
Minister Manickchand noted that it is not expected that recipients will remain needy forever. She added that the assistance is not intended to be a lifetime support.
She said that the ministry also offers a programme whereby needy persons could be eligible for grants to start their own small-scale businesses. However, most persons seem to have a preference for the public assistance, which amounts to $4,700 per person per month, she said. The minister further disclosed that it has been observed that many persons remain in the public assistance programme for a number of years; in effect, preventing other persons in dire need from benefiting.
For this reason, a constant review of the programme is required, to ensure that those who are truly in need are benefiting. It is expected that the evaluation of persons’ eligibility will conclude by next week.
The board will be tasked with advising the ministry as to who are the eligible persons, after which payment is expected to commence.
Minister Manickchand’s outline of the public assistance programme came in wake of a complaint from 53-year-old Lorna Robertson of Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara.
According to the grandmother of five grandchildren, all of whom are in her care, she has no source of income and therefore relies completely on the public assistance. The woman said she attempted to access the programme after the parents of her grandchildren, whose ages range from 15 to four, died, leaving them in her sole care.
With the children to care for, the woman said, she was unable to secure employment.
She disclosed that, since 2001, she has been able to access the assistance for two of them, and assistance for two more was possible two years ago. According to her, she is afforded monetary assistance on a monthly basis. She added that she has been trying to gain similar assistance for another grandchild, who is four years old, and a seven-year-old child she conceived after being raped.
However, she expressed disappointment that her several attempts to get the regular assistance since last month, and up until yesterday, have proven impossible, leaving herself, child and grandchildren in a dilemma.
However, according to the minister, no one should be eligible for public assistance over a nine-year period, as Robertson claims she has.
The minister reiterated that the intent of the programme is to be a support to persons until they are able to meet their own needs entirely.
As part of the review for such clients as Robertson’s, the minister said, consideration of the ages of the children and whether she is in receipt of additional support will determine if she will again this year receive public assistance.
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