Over 360,000 Jamaican beneficiaries are to receive a one-off $10,000 grant from the Government of Jamaica for this month.

These beneficiaries fall under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) and the Social Pension Programme, while some pensioners under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) will also benefit from the support.

The payments, which are being made through the Labour Ministry started on November 15, when over 6,000 elderly persons, 75 years and older, received their grant along with their social pension payment.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda, who made the disclosure in a statement released by his ministry explained that funding for the initiative is being facilitated through an allocation of $1.9 billion under the Social and Economic Recovery and Vaccine (SERVE) Jamaica Programme.

He was quick to point out that the one-off grant is in addition to the normal payments due to recipients during the period.

“During December, 136,340 families on PATH and 41,000 NIS pensioners, who receive less than $10,000 per month for pension, will…receive their grant. This totals well over 360,000 beneficiaries,” Samuda said.

“As a ministry, we are proud to contribute to national resilience during this difficult time by allowing the most vulnerable among us to be able to purchase much-needed food and other supplies to sustain themselves, especially at Christmas, which for many, is their favourite time of the year, when families get together,” the minister continued.

 “I am proud to be the steward of these benefits to the poor people of Jamaica and I can assure you that we will account for every dollar to be disbursed,” Samuda noted.