Barbadians will begin receiving the long-awaited one-off BB$300 (US$150) Solidarity Allowance starting Wednesday, May 14, as part of this year’s Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, made the announcement during a media conference, stating that payments will first go out to individuals aged 18 and over whose banking details are already on file in the government’s systems. Those not yet registered can expect their payments starting the following Wednesday, May 21.
To facilitate the rollout, several government agencies will be responsible for distributing payments based on specific categories. The Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) will handle payments to private sector employees registered in the tax system with banking details, while the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NIS) will cover self-employed individuals, pensioners, and other eligible recipients.
The allowance is available to a wide cross-section of Barbadians, including:
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Anyone who contributed to NIS within the past 12 months
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All contributory and non-contributory pensioners
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Persons receiving invalidity benefits
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Recipients of the Special Needs Grant
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Clients of the Welfare Department
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Individuals not currently on welfare
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Persons who have not worked in the past 12 months
For those who do not fall under any of the listed categories, Minister Straughn said special provisions will be made to register them for payment.
The Solidarity Allowance is part of the government’s broader effort to provide relief to citizens facing economic challenges.
