The Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development has advised that the Energy Costs Mitigation Assistance, also known as the Energy Grant, which was set up by Government to assist persons over 65, persons with disabilities and the unemployed, is still available.
The Grant became accessible on October 1, 2011, following the Minister of Finance’s delivery of the Budgetary Statement and Financial Proposals in August last year. It provides $5 million to cover energy costs for persons of vulnerable groups in society.
Applicants will first be assessed to determine their eligibility, following which payments will be made through the Welfare Department directly to the Barbados Light and Power Co. Ltd.
Eligible persons may access the Grant through the offices of the Welfare Department, which are located on the 5th Floor, Old National Insurance Building, Fairchild Street, Bridgetown; Weymouth Complex, Corner of Roebuck Street and Country Road, St. Michael; Benthams, St. Lucy; Barbados National Bank building, Speightstown, St. Peter; Belleplaine, St. Andrew; Glebe, St. George; Warrens Polyclinic, St. Michael; Gall Hill, St. John; and Six Roads, St. Philip.
Persons who are unable to visit the Welfare offices may also apply at any of the Constituency Council’s offices. They are located at: Oistins Community Centre, Christ Church; Rices Resource Centre, St. Philip; Ellerton Community Centre, St. George; the Welfare Office, Gall Hill, St. John; Deacons Resource Centre, St. Michael; Parkinson Community Centre, The Pine, St. Michael; St. Christopher’s Resource Centre, St. Christopher, Christ Church; Weston Resource Centre, St. James; Grazettes Resource Centre; St. Michael; Bonnetts Resource Centre, Brittons Hill, St. Michael; the Welfare Office, Benthams, St. Lucy; and the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency
Empowerment and Community Development, 4th Floor, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael.
Applicants must present their Barbados Identification Card and original electricity bills, while unemployed persons must also show proof of registration with the National Unemployment Bureau.