-elders to get transportation allowance in May
THE Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, recently provided clarity to persons receiving permanent disability and old-age pension benefits through her ministry.
The minister stated that March will carry the increases mentioned for persons receiving permanent disability and old-age pensions in accordance with this year’s budgetary allocation.
She noted that all back pay from January and February will be given in March as well. Minister Persaud said that it will be equivalent to $56,000 for old age pension and $31,000 for permanent disability.
In addition to this, Minister Persaud related that persons can only stamp their vouchers at the Post Office. The ministry will be working to ensure that persons can have their vouchers stamped ahead of time.
Dr Persaud explained, “So in other words, when you go in April, they will stamp April, May, June. However, you will not be able to cash April, May, June. You will be able to cash April in April, May in May, June in June. So, you can’t cash ahead. You can only encash the month that you are in.”
Moving to the $20,000 transportation allowance promised to old-age pensioners, Dr. Persaud mentioned that this will be available in May.
Encouraging persons to keep checking the ministry’s page for updates on this, she stated that the transportation allowance will supplement the old-age pension, which has been increased to $46,000.
For those persons utilising Mobile Money Guyana (MMG) services, or the bank, they do not have to have anything stamped, and their monies will be paid either through their bank or MMG account, with the increases included.
Furthermore, Minister Persaud advised that if persons did not receive pensions for the month of November or December, they can set up an MMG account or open a bank account, so that their funds can be transmitted to them in a timely and convenient manner.
