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  by pltm
• Jan 18, 2017
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(PLTM) - Residents, in particular young persons, are abusing the government's public assistance programme. In its annual 2015 report, which was made public on Monday, January 16 by Health and Social Development Minister, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, the committee lamented the issue of long term dependency of young applicants.

Chairman of the public assistance committee is Pastor Calvin Mills.

According to the report, during the review of some of the applicants submitted for assistance, the committee members were particularly concerned about the long term dependency of young applicants on the government's social assistance programmes.

"While the scope of what the committee can stipulate or recommend is limited by legal authority, the committee is of the view that appropriate policies should be put in place to specify the criteria for assistance. The committee feels that such stipulated policies would assist social workers in effectively carrying out their duties and responsibilities," the report noted.

For 2015, the social assistance was allotted $523,200.00 for the purpose of assisting persons seeking assistance. For the reporting year, the committee was provided with periodic updates of the spending of the funds allotted, where 87 percent of the allocated funds were utilized for public assistance grants.

For electricity, $436.44 was expended in assistance; medicine, $1,319.30; temporary housing, $1,170.00; special needs, $46,706.00; medical (domestic), $16,932.43; medical (foreign), $5,777.00; and other social assistance, $382,257.07.

The funds under other social assistance included the committee's commitment to 75 established clients of the Social Development Department, who receive monthly cheques; 32 individuals receiving funding distributed through the relieving officers; and approved funeral/burial grants.

For 2015, the committee deliberated on several applications for monthly household and supplies grants; medical assistance; rental assistance; monthly financial grants; disability grants; pharmaceutical grants; and childcare grants.

Rental took up 6 percent of the pie; utility, 3 percent; childcare, 6 percent; emergency, 1 percent; fire relief, none; monthly financial grant, 8 percent; financial, 11 percent; medical, 26 percent; food, 11 percent; pharmaceutical, 4 percent and burial, 21 percent.

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