A new payment system for persons receiving National Assistance Grants is now in effect at the Welfare Department.
The system makes it faster for recipients to access funds and offers more secure transactions. It also eliminates the stigma attached to cashing “welfare cheques”.
National Assistance Grants are deposited directly to the person’s bank or credit union account with immediate effect. This means that instead of receiving a “Welfare cheque” in the mail, the grant money is deposited directly to the person’s bank account.
In order to receive the direct deposit, banking information must first be provided to the Welfare Department. This requires persons to:
- Complete the form received in the mail and return it to the Welfare Department by visiting its office at Weymouth Corporate Centre, Roebuck Street, St. Michael.
- Send the form via email to the following email: welfare.accounts@barbados.gov.bb. This will involve attaching proof of information, for example, a picture of the top of their latest credit union or bank statement.
- Complete the form online at is.gd/WelfareBenefitsForm.
The completed form should be returned/submitted to the Welfare Department as soon as possible to allow for a smooth transition.
Persons who do not have a bank or credit union account must return the attached form clearly stating such.
If, however, a person requires an account to benefit from the new payment system, the Welfare Department will help them to acquire an account and debit card through a banking institution. This will be done at no cost to the recipient.
The Welfare Department is reminding members of the public that it is safer to conduct their business using the Trident Identification Card, which is difficult to replicate.
As such, recipients of National Assistance Grants are encouraged to complete the process of acquiring the card “to assist in a more secure transition to the new payment system”.
For further information, persons may call the Welfare Department at 535-1000, 535-1005 or 535-1023, or email welfare.accounts@barbados.gov.bb.