Holness urges Jamaicans to get NIDS cards to access assistance
Key Points(5)
- Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to obtain their National Identification System (NIDS) cards and maintain active bank accounts to help speed up the processing of government assistance, including housing and disaster-relief grants.
- Holness made the appeal Friday, Oct.
- 30, during the handover of a three-bedroom house under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Guy's Hill, St.
- He said incorrect identification and banking information, dormant accounts and competing claims to damaged properties have delayed payments to beneficiaries under the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme.
- The prime minister urged residents to ensure that their personal information, Tax Registration Number (TRN) and banking details are accurate and up to date.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to obtain their National Identification System (NIDS) cards and maintain active bank accounts to help speed up the processing of government assistance, including housing and disaster-relief grants.
Holness made the appeal Friday, Oct. 30, during the handover of a three-bedroom house under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Guy's Hill, St. Catherine.
He said incorrect identification and banking information, dormant accounts and competing claims to damaged properties have delayed payments to beneficiaries under the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme.
The prime minister urged residents to ensure that their personal information, Tax Registration Number (TRN) and banking details are accurate and up to date.
The government is working toward a more streamlined system that would allow verified beneficiaries to receive assistance electronically, with fewer administrative delays, he said.
“I am asking for your cooperation. Get identified, open and maintain a bank account, and keep your information up to date. It is an important step in ensuring that you can access the assistance available to you,” Holness said.
He said the government verifies applicants' identities, circumstances and eligibility before allocating assistance through social welfare programmes, including the NSHP.
The process includes physical inspections and social investigations, with officials consulting community members, relatives, schools and justices of the peace to determine whether applicants qualify for assistance.
Additional requirements depend on the type of support being provided. People receiving cash transfers must have functioning bank accounts, while those receiving land or houses must demonstrate legal ownership or obtain permission to occupy the property through an appropriate long-term lease.
Holness said the measures are intended to ensure that public assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries and that permanent assets, such as houses, are protected against competing ownership claims.
He acknowledged that verification can lengthen the time needed to deliver assistance but said accurate, up-to-date information can help prevent unnecessary delays.
