GENERAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
This programme offers a range of grants to citizens/legal residents who are in dire need of temporary assistance.
Who Qualifies?
- Clients of the service delivery units of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services;
- Vulnerable persons in crisis and emergency situations
- Victims of natural or man-made disasters
ITEMS FUNDED UNDER THE GENERAL ASSISTANT GRANT
| GRANT | DESCRIPTION | VALUE | REQUIREMENTS |
| Clothing Grant | This grant provides assistance to victims of disaster to purchase essential items of clothing. Applicants can access this grant only once every two years. This grant is limited to the number of persons living in the household. | $1000.00 per person in the family | ID Card, estimate from supplier, Fire/Police Report or letter from Regional Corporation |
| Dietary Grant | This grant assists clients who suffer illnesses which require special diets, for example, renal patients and clients with uncontrolled diabetes. It is only offered where the person has to purchase food and other such items that are outside of what they would normally buy and where they are unable to meet the cost of these items. This service is only extended to persons who are on grants of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. It is made on a continuous basis as prescribed by a medical practitioner. This grant is subject to review. | $600.00 per person per month | ID Card, letter from hospital nutritionist, list of expenses |
| Domestic Help | This grant facilitates the provision of part-time domestic help for three (3) months in the first instance but not more than six (6) months if deemed necessary, to clients who are unable to perform normal household chores, for example, whilst recuperating from surgery, and are unable to afford the cost of domestic assistance. | $1,800.00 minimum 3 months maximum 6 months | ID Card of the Care Giver, Letter from Care Giver stating willingness to provide the service, supporting medical report |
| Education | This grant is intended to assist secondary school students where the Public Assistance and/or the Food Card is the only source of income in the household and where they are unable to meet the varying cost associated with the following: – Transportation (Where there is no public transportation system available) – Any special needs associated with school attendance where government agencies are not already providing such assistance. Such needs must be verified. | $500.00 per month, per child | ID Card of applicant, proof of enrolment (POE). (The POE Form will be issued by the Social Welfare Office) |
| Funeral Grant | This grant is intended to assist in the burial of deceased persons who have no one willing and/or financially able to undertake the cost of burial. It can be issued to needy families of the deceased in two ways: In instances before the funeral takes place and accompanied by the appropriate documents to support the claims (death certificate; funeral home estimate) OR After the funeral where the cost has not yet been paid. following burial.Claims must be justifiable and accompanied by the appropriate supporting documents (death certificate; bills outlining expenditure). | $7,000.00 | Applicant’s ID Card, death certificate, funeral home estimates/bills. The applicant may also need to complete a form issued by the Social Welfare Office in respect of National Insurance. |
| Household Items | This grant can be accessed by needy persons and by those who are victims of man-made or natural disasters to purchase household items such as stoves, refrigerators and furniture items.It can be accessed only once in a three-year period.*Note: This grant may be amended in instances of catastrophic damages. | Generally-6,000.00. Disaster Only – $10,000.00 | ID Card, estimate for furniture, official report/letter (e.g. from the Fire Services or Regional Corporation). |
| Medical Equipment | Under this grant, needy persons can qualify for wheelchairs, commodes, special beds, dentures, etc. | Generally-$7,500.00. | ID Card, estimate from supplier, medical records. |
| Pharmaceutical Grant | This grant is provided for the purchase of prescriptive medication only if drugs are not available under the C-DAP Programme or at the Public Dispensaries. Eligible persons are allowed a three-month supply which is given once per year. Requirements: | $2,500.00 | ID Card, prescription issued at a government clinic/hospital, quote for medicine from a pharmacy where it is not available at the government clinic/hospital, other documents as requested. |
| Rental Assistance | This grant is used to assist vulnerable clients who are temporarily unable to pay their rent, or who need new accommodation and are unable to meet initial payments. Persons who benefit from this grant are usually on the verge of eviction, fire victims and victims of domestic violence. This grant is given for three months in the first instance and is reviewable as follows: 1st three-month period – Up to $2,500.00 for three months, then reviewed2nd three-month period – Up to $2,500.00 for three months, then reviewed3rd three-month period – Up to $1,500.00 for three months, then reviewed4th three-month period – Up to $1,000.00 for three months. | Up to $2,500.00 per month for the first 3 months then reviewed | Applicant’s ID Card, letter from Landlord, copy of Landlord’s ID card, proof of ownership of property. |
| Prosthetics | This grant is aimed at rehabilitation and social re-integration, and by extension improve the quality of life, of persons who lost a limb. Before applying for this grant, the Ministry of Health must do an assessment to determine if the person needs a prosthesis and will be able to use it. | Up to $40,000.00 | ID card, evidence of address, quote from provider, assessment from the Ministry of Health |
| School Supplies Grant | This grant is intended to assist children who are attending primary and secondary schools whose books/uniforms were destroyed by natural or man-made disasters. | Primary school Students – $700.00 Secondary school Students – $1000.00 | ID Card, estimate from supplier, Fire/Police report |
| Special Child Grant | This grant targets children with a moderate disability. It provides assistance to parents who are unable to meet the financial cost of caring for a child with special needs who does not qualify for DAG for children. The grant can be accessed for children under the age of (18) eighteen and is given for a one-year period, followed by a review to determine continuation. A child on whose behalf Public Assistance Grant is paid will NOT be eligible for this grant. | $800.00 per month | I.D. Card (of applicant), Child’s birth certificate, Bank Passbook/Recent Bank Statement, other documents relevant to the application. Medical report from clinic. |