The ministry is introducing a bank payment option for old age pensioners
The Ministry of Human Services is introducing a pension payment through the banking system in an effort to end the long lines at Post Offices.
Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has introduced a bank payment option for old age pensioners.
According to information posted on the Ministry’s Facebook page, pensioners need to fill out a form providing their name, address, ID or passport number, bank account number and bank name. Pensioners can pick up the bank application form, free of charge, from any of the Ministry’s offices and sub-offices nationwide or download it from the Ministry’s website.
The forms are to be signed and returned to any of the Ministry’s offices. Once the pensioner uses the banking system, the Ministry said the pension book must be surrendered at any of the Ministry’s offices.
The Minister for Human Services, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has been urging pensioners to use the banking system. During a recent press conference, Minister Persaud announced that the Ministry would promote the use of the banking system as a means of paying out pensioners. Under this system, Dr. Persaud that the payment would be made directly into the pensioner’s bank account between the first day and the fifth day of each month, after which the pensioners can access the funds whenever they wish.
“So this makes it easier for them and we would really like to encourage people with bank accounts to use this service, so again it would reduce the lines we see and the number of people who pressed up to receive their pension, ”the Minister said.
It also addressed pension collection issues under the current system. The Minister emphasized that it was completely the opposite of the liner in all the locations where pensions are paid.
“Once the monthly payment starts each day, people can go in and get their payments. Not everyone needs to go on the first day the pension is paid. There is an alphabetical system they use so you can go in any day and pick up your pension and I really hope pensioners use this, it really hurts my heart , when I see so many of them out there, ”he added.
The Minister also announced that steps would be taken to ensure that the post offices were upgraded to accommodate pensioners.
“… Because sometimes there’s rain and sunshine, and the elderly pensioners are there in the bad weather, so we’re trying to work with them to make the conditions better for people to get their pension, and we will move to join NGOs so they can work with us to provide refreshments where we can, ”he said.
Further, Dr. Persaud said that she was trying to ensure that all elderly people received their pension on time. To this end, he revealed that the Ministry is introducing the six-month pay scheme for pensioners, who are considered to be closing-in sessions, as well as those living in remote areas across the country .
“That money has already been delivered in some regions for the first half of the year and the second will be from July. We have completed those individuals in Region Four, Six, we are closing Ten and we are currently in Eight, and soon we will move to Seven, then we will start the second half of the direct payment, ”he explained.