More than 54 000 Barbadians have already received the first round of Government’s Cost of Living Cash Credit, with $5.43 million disbursed in April as part of the one-year relief programme announced in the 2026 Budget.
The National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) confirmed that 54 300 eligible beneficiaries received the initial $100 payment on April 20 through direct bank deposits and mailed cheques.
Of the recipients, 29 976 were paid via direct deposit while 24 324 were sent cheques.
Beneficiaries included National Insurance Scheme pensioners, public sector pensioners, recipients of Special Needs Grants and seniors aged 65 and over without pension income. Welfare recipients received their payments directly through the Social Empowerment Agency (SEA).
The monthly cash support programme was one of the headline social protection measures unveiled by Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn during the March 16 Budgetary Proposals And Financial Statement, as Government sought to cushion vulnerable Barbadians from continued cost-of-living pressures.
The minister said the State would provide a $100 monthly payment through the Consolidated Fund over a 12-month period to those who qualified.
The programme officially began on April 1 and will continue until March 31, 2027.
Yesterday, NISSS chief executive officer Kim Tudor said the agency had delivered on its commitment to beneficiaries.
“We said we would deliver and we did. Every eligible beneficiary who registered in time for the [cash credit] payment in April received their $100 by direct bank deposit or cheque. This is NISSS doing what it has done for over 58 years: honouring its commitment to the people of Barbados,” Tudor said.
The agency also revealed that registration efforts had expanded beyond Bridgetown in an effort to reach more elderly and vulnerable Barbadians.
As of May 5, another 1 574 people had registered for the programme through outreach exercises held at the Speightstown Resource
Centre in St Peter and satellite offices of SEA in Six Roads, St Philip, and Oistins, Christ Church.
“The [cash credit] is for every eligible Barbadian – not just those who live near Bridgetown. We are taking registration to where people are and we will continue to do so until every eligible person has been reached,” Tudor said.
Officials are urging two categories of people to register as quickly as possible: seniors aged 65 and over without other income who are still awaiting pension approval, and those currently aged 64 who will turn 65 between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027.
According to NISSS, these individuals qualify to begin receiving the cash credit from the month of their 65th birthday and eligible people who registered after April 20 will receive their first [cash credit] payment – including any amount due for April – in the next payment cycle on May 20.
In a press conference held on April 8 to clarify the rollout and payment schedule, Minister Straughn had clarified that the cash grant was a separate payment from the pensions paid by the National Insurance and would be given on the 20th of each month.
The minister said that those eligible for credit would have until the end of the month to indicate if they wished to receive it monthly or annually. That change, however, would only come into effect after June as the agencies looked to establish a simple process for administering the funds.
Eligible Barbadians can continue registering online through the NISSS [cash credit] portal or in person at the Frank Walcott Building on Culloden Road, St Michael. ( JRN)
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