Over $1M in back-to-school aid – Minister Humphrey

The Welfare Department has spent more than $1 million on back-to-school support this year, according to Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey who rubbished social media claims that the department is failing to assist citizens.

“There has been a video circulating in which the accusation is made that the Welfare Department has not been responding to requests for assistance from the public, and I wish to state categorically that is not the case,” he said on Friday on the sidelines of a back-to-school haircut session organised by the ministry’s National Well-being and HIV Commission at the Church of God on Chelsea Road.

Humphrey acknowledged room for improvement in processing speed but highlighted significant progress.

He detailed measures to streamline the application process, particularly for existing welfare clients.

“We have made it very clear that people who are known to [the] Welfare [Department], instead of having to do the interviews to see what the circumstances are, we give them a green light. Persons who would come traditionally every year, they get a green light so they would get welfare straight off the bat,” the minister explained.

He attributed improvements to proactive government measures, including additional staff hires and early application encouragement through social media and call-in programmes. He said the department has processed more applications and assisted more students in 2024 than in the entirety of 2023.

Figures provided by Humphrey show that in 2023, there were 2 818 applications for educational assistance, benefiting 3 286 students. As of Thursday, the department had processed 1 989 applications, aiding 3 853 students. The minister anticipates these numbers will increase by the end of September, noting that many applications typically arrive close to the start of the school term.

Comparing year-on-year data, Humphrey pointed out that while only 15 students received assistance in July 2023, with $3 650 disbursed, this July saw 140 students benefit, with a total of $37 200 distributed. August saw a significant increase in processed applications, totalling $661 000 compared to $132 000 in the same month last year.

Acknowledging occasional delays, Humphrey assured the public of ongoing efforts to enhance the department’s efficiency.

“I want to get to the point where we process everybody faster,” he said, revealing plans to implement a new computer system for quicker processing.

(LG)