ONE-OFF SOLIDARITY ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS TO START FROM MAY 14
Barbadians will begin to receive the one-off Solidarity Allowance payments as announced in this year’s Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement starting Wednesday, May 14.
Individuals 18 years and over, whose banking details are already lodged in the various systems, will receive their payments from May 14, while those not registered will start receiving theirs from Wednesday, May 21.
To facilitate this payment, various government agencies will pay different categories of persons. Persons employed in the central government will receive their $300 through the Treasury Department, which will be deposited into the bank account where they receive their salary.
For those employed in state-owned enterprises, payments will be issued by their organisation, using the payroll system already in place.
The Barbados Revenue Authority will issue payments to private sector employees registered in the tax system with banking information, and the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) will issue payments to self-employed persons, pensioners and all others who are eligible.
Other individuals eligible to receive the $300 include those who have made contributions to NISSS in the last 12 months; all contributory pensioners; all non-contributory pensioners, including those receiving the Special Needs Grant; all persons receiving an Invalidity Benefit from the NISSS, all Welfare Department clients; people not on welfare, and individuals who have not worked in the last 12 months.
Individuals are encouraged to ensure that their banking information is up to date to facilitate the timely processing of payments to bank accounts.
For individuals who do not fall into the previously mentioned categories, special provisions will be made to facilitate their registration. Starting May 7, officers from the NISSS will be stationed at post offices to provide assistance with the registration process. Additionally, a registration centre will be operational on the ground floor of the NISSS building, located on Culloden Road, St. Michael. A schedule of registration centres as well as the required documents for registration will be published on the NIS website and shared via its social media channels. (JC/BGIS)