More financial relief for special needs: Grants expanded and increased

Special needs children and their families stand to benefit from more government financial support as a greater number of them become eligible for state grants.

This was announced by Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn who was outlining to the House of Assembly and the nation, that the special needs grant introduced last October is now to be available to an expanded group including those minors who are mute, deaf and blind. This group was missed when the programme was introduced last year and they can now apply for the grant which will be paid retroactive to October.

And from June 1 this year, those with other rare disabilities are also to be provided for and the regulations amended to reflect their inclusion.

The special needs grant for adult recipients is equal to the non-contributory pension and for minors it’s half of the pension.

Minister Straughn, who was delivering the 2025-2026 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals in the Barbados Parliament added that since creating the special needs grant in October 2024, 791 people have benefited from the $2.9 million disbursed. People with disabilities covered under the programme included those with advanced multiple sclerosis, autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. Five hundred and eight of the beneficiaries are autistic, including 392 minors.

“This is unprecedented in our country and is an attempt by this government to ensure that people with disabilities can live with dignity and that the burdens carried by their families and caregivers are lessened and that they do not have to wonder how they will be taken care of when they are older,” he told the Lower Chamber, to the table-thumping of his parliamentary colleagues.

Under broader social policy reform, the minister also outlined that government’s plans for the next fiscal year include a focus on child protection and care through the provision of a secure residential treatment facility for children needing specialist care and the establishment of a “safe space” for children aged 12-18 to transition to their “teens”, he added. The home for 30 children is to be located at Bullens, St James and is a joint project with the Barbados Children’s Trust which has also donated to the facilities at the Nightengale’s Children’s Centre.

The minister also turned the spotlight on the country’s foster care programme which he said needed the involvement of more families to provide family-based care and protection for children unable to stay in their homes.

Straughn said the foster programme’s participants are also to benefit from an increased stipend from April 1, recognising the increased cost of living. That weekly allowance will move to $200 from $100 and $110 which is now paid based on whether the child is in primary or secondary school. The increase will mean $85 000 in costs based on current numbers, the minister added. (SP)