30 Per Cent Increase in PATH Benefits

The Government has raised benefits under the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) by 30 per cent.

This follows Cabinet’s approval of increases in the 2017/18 benefit rates, which came into effect on June 1.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the increase will also move the base benefit from $400 to $600 per child each month.

He was speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday (June 28).

Senator Reid informed that a revised graduation strategy is to be implemented for PATH, which will require reapplication, and the replacement of mass recertification.

The graduation strategy targets PATH beneficiaries, who are deemed able to sustain themselves and can therefore exit the programme.

Additionally, starting in 2017, PATH families will be required to reapply after three and a half years of participation.

Persons eligible for the programme after recertification will continue to receive cash grants.

PATH is the Government’s flagship social intervention initiative, which is aimed at delivering benefits by way of cash grants to the most needy and vulnerable in the society.