By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
PERSONS receiving food assistance from the Department of Social Services should soon see an increase of as much as five per cent in benefits to offset the introduction of value added tax, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said.
Presently, benefits range from $80 to $180. The proposed increase will move benefits between $84 to $189.
“VAT came in on January 1,” Mrs Griffin said during a recent interview. “Persons would have received food assistance just prior to the holiday. They won’t be receiving it again until the end of January, unless there is some emergency and they come forward. That is when we will be able to say what the feedback is, what the impact may be at that particular time.”
She added: “Our advice has been that the experience with VAT in other places is that there is usually a 3-5 per cent increase in food prices, so that is why we immediately moved to start with the higher 5 per cent.
“We have that approval and will move to put it in place to offset any fallout.”
The minister added that the government’s introduction of pre-paid Visa cards for persons eligible for Social Service benefits have been “extremely successful”.
Mrs Griffin said that the pre-paid card programme had been for the past month allowing nearly 600 persons to shop with ease. The initiative is a part of the first phase of the government’s safety net reform plan for the Department of Social Services.
“The entire process has been a great success,” Mrs Griffin said. “We started this programme at our Wulff Road station and as a result of the excellent response there, we are moving with haste to implement the programme elsewhere.”
She revealed that the department has plans of “rolling out” the programme at a number of other stations in the coming months, including Fox Hill and Robinson Road.
The card, which was launched in November, replaced the food coupon and is being done in conjunction with the Bank of The Bahamas.
The Department of Social Services indicated during the card’s launch that its use is restricted to food purchases and could not be used in a web shop, liquor store, clothing or a beauty supply store.
“There were only a few instances where persons tried to use their cards inappropriately, but we contacted those persons quickly and resolved all problems in those cases,” Mrs Griffin said.
Comments
B_I_D___ 9 years, 3 months ago
So that's the food...what about the increase in rent, electricity, water, BTC, etc...all those are going up as well...not just the food.
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
Stupid ass government
realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago
where do these people live. vat is 7.5% so food will only go up by 5 % the lies they tell. most businesses increased their prices Dec 1st then added vat Jan 1st. i have seen some items gone up as high as 39 %. So tell that crap to your base who dont take time to find info for themselves.
B_I_D___ 9 years, 3 months ago
Yeap...unfortunately with our dumbed down masses they will see this 5% and jump up and down with glee and think that the government is watching out for them and they straight!!
TruthHurts 9 years, 3 months ago
"...unfortunately with our dumbed down masses they will see this 5% and jump up and down with glee and think that the government is watching out for them and they straight!!
I am highly offended by this statement. Most of the individuals who need social service assistant already have a hard time, social issues and such and now you're calling them names??? The audacity of you! Have a Seat you JUNIOR ACHIEVER!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
He never mentioned that people on social services were dumbed down, he said "our dumbed down masses".
Speaking truth, our masses are dumbed down. How else to explain that a stupid nonsensical dance can be a highlight in your election campaign, that you can put out a "manifesto" that has zero basis in reality and the masses buy into it? How else to explain it? This needs to change but it is where we are. Remember ~"well, since I can't legalize gambling I'll have to introduce VAT"?
B_I_D___ 9 years, 3 months ago
Yes...missed my point...the fact that the generally population, which is general under-educated and can't see much past their noses will see the fact that the government is giving them 5% on food as a job well done...they will not see until they REALLY have no money left, that they got no assistance for the added %ages on everything else, rent, light bills, phone bills, etc. They will just see that 5% boost in food allowance and jump up and down in glee as if all their problems have been solved because of the government doing the right thing by them. Now...don't get me wrong, 5% is better than nothing, but it's a small portion of the overall major increase across the board.
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