THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) has announced that booklets for Old Age Pension (OAP) and Permanent Disability for 2025 will be distributed to beneficiaries throughout January and February. This update was shared via the Ministry’s Facebook page, emphasising its commitment to ensuring timely access to these vital resources.
The Ministry confirmed that the distribution process will include persons who are shut-in and have registered for this service. For beneficiaries who miss the scheduled distribution dates or whose names were inadvertently omitted from the lists, arrangements have been made to collect booklets early in the year from any MHSSS office nationwide.
In addition, the Ministry has outlined the process for Public Assistance books, which will be issued in 2025 following reviews and approvals by the Local Board of Guardians. Public Assistance books are distributed biannually, requiring beneficiaries to reapply for each new issuance.
The MHSSS highlighted that these initiatives form part of its broader Social Assistance Programmes, designed to offer psychological, social, financial, and material support to senior citizens, the infirm, the indigent, and the destitute. These programmes aim to enhance beneficiaries’ ability to cope with life’s challenges and improve their overall well-being.
The Ministry’s mission extends beyond financial aid, encompassing training and rehabilitation services for vulnerable groups, including children, women, families, and the elderly. It also provides critical support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, individuals in conflict with the law, neglected and abused children, victims of human trafficking, teenage mothers, and single parents.
Committed to sustainable development and the economic and social advancement of disadvantaged populations, the MHSSS continues to formulate policies and implement programmes that ensure effective social protection ‘floors’ for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.