Cox: Covid19 relief grants difficult to process

Due to the sheer volume of people applying for government assistance due to the covid19 pandemic, Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox admitted that processing relief grants was one of the most difficult tasks she faced for 2020.

Speaking with reporters after distributing hampers to families in need in Weekes Trace, San Juan, on Christmas Day, Cox said there was a need for the ministry to shift resources towards processing applications for families in need.

She noted the system was clogged with people who did not meet the Government's criteria to receive assistance through the relief packages and understood how frustrating it could be for people waiting lengthy periods for help.

"People who clogged the system because they were not eligible but still applied, some knowingly and unknowingly applied, and of course if we had to go through all the applications that would have hindered others.

"To me that was tough because people are asking about the status of their grant whether it be food support, income support or even rent relief but we have been able to weather the storm, we have a few still processing. We actually waiting on releases but we have stopped taking applications so we want to clear all of those we have inside."

She also said some applications have been forwarded to the Fraud Squad under suspicion of fraudulent activity.

Asked what would be the ministry's plans for the new year, Cox said as some people have returned to work there were still those in need of the government's support and advised them to apply through the "normal" social welfare grants.

"Public assistance and temporary food support so they can once they pass the means test will be eligible so they can go to any of our social welfare offices and apply and once they pass the test they would qualify for assistance."

In July, the former social development minister Camille Robinson-Regis, now planning minister, disclosed that Government has spent $284 million on social relief measures to help people affected by the pandemic. And in November, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that over $131 million was paid to over 80,000 applicants for the salary relief grant.