Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn is assuring Barbadians that Government is making provisions for everyone eligible for the solidarity allowance to receive it.
In a media briefing at the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS), Culloden Road, St Michael, Straughn said pensioners and those in the NISSS and BRA systems would receive the one-off payment digitally. Pensioners will be paid via their usual means, others will need to register at select sites (listed below) and those without a bank account will receive a cheque by mail.
The Solidarity Allowance was announced last March in the 2025 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals as a one-off payment designed to provide some relief.
“All persons who made contributions to the NIS in the last 12 months, all national insurance contributory pensioners, all noncontributory pensioners including those accessing the special need grant, all persons receiving invalidity benefits from the national insurance scheme, all welfare clients receiving support, not in any category above, all of these persons, will qualify for the solidarity allowance,” Straughn said at that time.
Disbursement is scheduled to begin May 14 and the exercise will last through June. Straughn said the funds came from the corporate tax regime where they transferred $55 million to the NISSS, which will be the administrator.
The following are the places and times for registration for the Solidarity Allowance, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 7-9: St George Post Office, St John Post Office, St Thomas Post Office, St Joseph Post Office, General Post Office.
May 12-16: St James Post Office, St Peter Post Office, St Philip Post Office, Worthing Post Office, General Post Office.
May 20-23: St Andrew Post Office, St Joseph Post Office, St Philip Post Office, St John Post Office, General Post Office.
May 26-30: Warrens Post Office, Worthing Post Office, St James Post Office, St Peter Post Office, Brittons Hill Post Office General Post Office.
There will also be a registration centre at the NISSS from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
