Close to 150 000 individuals have received the Solidarity Allowance says Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn.
He gave that update as he reminded individuals, who have not yet received it, that they had up until June 30 to register to collect the $300 payment.
“So far we believe that the exercise has been done reasonably well. We’ve been able to pay 149 823 people with a total of $44 616 900,” Straughn said.
He made those comments during a press conference Tuesday at Parliament.
Director of National Insurance and Social Security (NISS) Kim Tudor also attended the briefing.
During the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in March, Straughn first announced that Barbadians would begin to receive the payments from May 14.
The funds were allocated from the Consolidated Fund, specifically from the corporate taxes the Government received between 2024 and 2025.
NISS has been coordinating the disbursement.
Individuals 18 years and over, whose banking details were already lodged in the various systems, were the first to receive the funds.
Those who were not registered, were encouraged to visit post offices or the NISS with their IDs.
“We’ve had just about 17 000 people or so who have visited either the National Insurance or the various post offices. Almost 15 000 of those persons were persons who had to update their address and information,” Straughn said.
While acknowledging that there have been long lines at some of the post offices, he said that process was critical.
“We have been asking people to update and register the information with the National Insurance. We regret that obviously, we’ve seen long lines at some of the post offices.
“We needed to ensure that we have up-to-date information in order to pay people. Because what we did not want was NISS sending out cheques, and they went to the wrong address,” he added.
He urged people to come forward to register and collect.
“I want to encourage people to come forward as quickly as possible. Let’s get through this particular process, so that the NISS, working with the post office can get as many people paid as quickly as possible.
“I want to reiterate that this registration process is due to come to an end officially on June 30. But we really would like that by June 30 that we paid everyone,” he said.
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