13,000 More Persons Targeted For Benefits Under Social Pension Programme

Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says that another 13,000 persons are being targeted to receive benefits under the Social Pension Programme.

Approximately 7,000 persons have registered, so far, under the initiative.

The Governor-General was delivering the Throne Speech to mark the ceremonial opening of the 2022/23 Parliamentary Year in the House of Representatives on February 10, under the theme ‘Building Our Jamaica: Peace, Opportunity and Prosperity’.

The $800-million Social Pension Programme, which was launched in July 2021, provides a guaranteed income for vulnerable persons 75 years and older.

Seniors targeted are those not currently in receipt of a pension, disability benefit or other retirement benefits, cash grants from the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) or Poor Relief Programme, and who do not reside in a government institutional care facility.

Turning to other measures to assist the vulnerable population, particularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Governor General noted that approximately $2 billion was spent to provide additional COVID-19 relief grants to 195,000 families through the SERVE Jamaica programme.

“Beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and social pensioners were targeted for assistance,” he noted.

The Governor General said the Government also benefited from a renewed partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme.

A grant agreement, which saw the donation of 10,950 food packages and US$1.5 million to aid in the Government’s COVID-19 relief efforts, was signed.

Meanwhile, the special subcommittee of the Labour Advisory Council, established in December 2020 to assess the impact of the pandemic on Jamaica’s labour market, completed its work in June 2021.

The Governor General said the subcommittee cited immediate steps for recovery, which included embracing digitisation and retooling, as well as legislative actions to address the new demands of the world of work.

“The implementation of unemployment insurance is among the key recommendations, and work on its feasibility will be advanced in the upcoming year,” he indicated.

He added that the implementation of a series of reform measures that began in 2018, has resulted in a net surplus in National Insurance Fund (NIF) operations and an overall improvement in its long-term sustainability.

As of November 2021, the unaudited Net Asset Value of the NIF stood at approximately $136 billion, representing a year over year growth rate of approximately 12 per cent.