By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Monday 5th February 2023)- Households headed by seniors and persons with disabilities have been identified as the prioritized recipients in the first payment cycle of the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) following the new government’s application process which saw over 11,000 applicants.
In an address to the nation aired Sunday 5th February 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development Dr. Geoffrey Hanley gave an update. He informed that the Federal Cabinet has approved the following “priority households to receive the monthly payments of $500 PAP cash transfer  namely households headed by seniors persons 62 years and older who identified themselves as the main applicant for the benefit during the registration period, households headed by persons who identify themselves as the main applicant and indicated that they have a verifiable disability as well as households with minor children, that is employed and unemployed persons who identify themselves as the main applicant and whose households contain children under the age of 18.
As indicated by him, unemployed heads of households with minor children will be prioritised within this category Dr. Hanley said the first payment cycle commenced on Friday 3rd February and was expected to be completed by Monday 6th February, noting that recipients for this first payment are households headed by seniors and persons with disabilities only.
According to him: “All future payment to additional categories of beneficiaries will be made by the last working day of each month inclusive of February 2023. Additionally, beneficiaries will be based on the prioritized categories of the vulnerable persons including unemployed heads of households with minor children and then employed heads of households with minor children.” He pointed out that as presented during the 2022 budget debate, the federal cabinet recognises the need to reform the PAP which is being established to help reduce poverty and support vulnerable families to meet their basic needs.“As we review applications and consider options to strengthen the programmes in PAP and sustainability as a poverty reduction social protection programme, he listed that the steps being taken are for improvements and sustainability.” In addressing the rebranding of the programme, he stated “Since the inception of the programme, the Poverty Alleviation Programme has operated as a monetary handout to individuals without any conditions of requirements to empower beneficiaries or enable self sufficiency or transition from dependency on state assistance.
As this administration work towards building a resilient sustainable island state, it is necessary for us to revise our approach to poverty reduction and rebrand the PAP as a temporary cash transfer programme that provides an income supplement to assist the most vulnerable households. Dr.
Hanley continued: “In light of this clearly defined social development objective, I take this opportunity to inform the public that with immediate effect, the poverty alleviation programme will function as a temporary cash transfer programme for vulnerable households that meet eligibility criteria and standard means tested which is applied to all social assistance programmes delivered through the Department of Social Services. Further information about the rebranding of the programme which would include a new name, clearly defined objectives, conditions and operational plan will be released in the coming months.” “Your Labour government promised you a robust social protection system that is designed to meet the needs of the poor and most vulnerable.
To do this, we need programmes that are evidence based, steeped in best practices and tailored to attain our national objectives. This cannot be achieved with the Poverty Alleviation Programme in its current form,” he further remarked.
The Social Development Minister informed that at the close of the application process on December 30th 2022, over eleven thousand (11,000) applications were submitted through the online application portal.“Of the total applications received from across St. Kitts and Nevis, nine thousand and ninety-four applications (8,994) were fully completed and accepted for further review, verification and processing.
A further review of the completed applications reveal that eight thousand, nine hundred and eighty-five (8,985) applicants were eligible based on the self-reported earnings. Further verification of employment and income status of eligible applicants continue with the assistance from the Social Security Board,” he shared.
