Budget 2025: Over 40,000 persons to benefit from increased public assistance of $22,000
A total of $1.4 billion will be placed into the hands of 40,000 persons who are set to receive public assistance in 2025.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Friday revealed that from January 1, 2025, public assistance payments will increase from $19,000 to $22,000.
“The total public assistance payout in 2025 will amount to over $10 billion,” Dr. Singh highlighted.
During his presentation, Dr. Singh did not spare the APNU+AFC, who had promised to immediately double public assistance benefits upon assuming office in 2015.
“However, this promise, like their commitment regarding Old Age Pension, went unfulfilled during their five years in office, with public assistance increasing only marginally from $5,900 in 2014 to $9,000 in 2019,” Dr. Singh remarked.
He added that, “Under this PPP/C government, public assistance increased from $9,000 in 2020 to $19,000 at the end of 2023, more than doubling what was inherited.”
