Support increased for disability and public assistance beneficiaries in 2024

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has reported an increase in the number of both permanent disability senses and public assistance beneficiaries with the latter up by 100 per cent.

This is according to subject Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud.

“We’ve seen increases in our numbers of beneficiaries in both permanent disability senses as well as public assistance beneficiaries. We have exceeded our targets, we have increased our public assistance beneficiaries by 100%.

“It speaks to our Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations across length and breadth of Guyana,” she said at the Ministry’s year end press conference earlier this week.

The Minister noted that in addition to an increase in individual allotment, the Ministry has increased its overall presence in every Region across the country.

Persons living with permanent disabilities were given the options to utilise the banking system and Mobile Money Guyana Inc. (MMG). The Ministry has seen an increase in users of these options and has also increased the direct payment method in more communities across all Regions.

Additionally, the Ministry has increased its shut-in registry, whereby persons who are bedridden have the option to request delivery of a permanent disability benefit, pension book, or pension payment to their home.

Majority of the work involving assistive aids comes through the Ministry’s ‘Difficult Circumstances Unit.’ In 2024, G$71M was expended to this Unit for its work, not only with assistive aids, but also with business grants, funeral expenses, victims of fires, etc.

Dr Persaud added that the Ministry has 94 social services officers in all Regions delivering a variety of these and similar services. She further listed other work done by the Ministry to improve the quality of life of persons living with disabilities.

“We have done several things. Not only are they receiving the monthly cash grant, they also have access to assistive aids.

“Every year we increase the number of persons who benefit from things like wheelchairs, walkers, white canes,” she said.

The Minister mentioned that this programme only requires a call/request and an Identification Card for persons to receive these assistive aids at no cost.

“These are programmes that are really geared towards vulnerable populations across the length and breadth of our country and people from any Region can access these services,” said Minister Persaud.