By Alric Lindsay
At a Finance Committee hearing on October 11, 2024, Deputy Premier and Minister for Social Development André Ebanks received approvals of $4.6 million in financial assistance and $2.2 million for ex gratia benefit payments to seafarers and veterans. Indications were also given for special payments to seniors and civil servants for Christmas 2024.
What the $4.6 million will cover
According to the Minister for Social Development, the Department of Financial Assistance (formerly the Needs Assessment Unit) currently services 1,900 households (about 4,500 individuals). The $4.6 million is expected to meet their needs for transitional housing, rental deposits, internet, transportation, telephone, and other expenses until the end of 2024.
Regarding the changes in the budget for financial assistance over the years, MP Christopher Saunders asked the Minister for Social Development to explain the increases.
MP Saunders said:
I’m looking at the Government’s budget for 2024-2025 and I noticed the TP 41 in the planning estimates for 2022. The actual amount was just under 18 million, and for 2023 it was forecasted at 16 million in terms of TP 41. And now I’m realizing for 2024 it’s going to be up almost to 26 million.
So, we’re talking about a forecast of 16 million in 2023 to 26 million almost in 2024. That’s like a $10 million jump in the space of between the forecast of 23 and the forecast of 2024. I’m just trying to figure out, I mean, I do recognize a lot of people do need assistance and I can tell you the people, the team at NAU do a phenomenal job, but I’m just trying to figure out this big jump. I mean, what’s driving it? And this goes back again now to the structural issues that I’m having in terms of our overall society.
The Minister for Social Development responded:
We could get to the numbers, but the numbers really haven’t grown. It’s the amount of services that we’re providing.
So, for the first time, as we revamping the financial assistance system, the qualification thresholds in key areas have increased. So, whereas before, if you were a single person and your salary was $3,000 and under, then you were then qualified for assistance. But we were recognizing there are households that have four to seven people in them and only one person working. So, we expanded the criteria so that you could make up to $4,000 that allowed more people into the system. In addition to that, there are new services…
Ex-Gratia Payments To Seafarers & Veterans
Moving on to the payments to seafarers and veterans, the Minister for Social Development noted that, as of October 2024, there were 886 seafarers and veterans. The $2.2 million approved by the Finance Committee is expected to assist them.
Notwithstanding the approval of this amount, MP Saunders noted that Christmas is nearby and queried whether a special Christmas payment was contemplated for struggling retirees.
Responding to MP Saunders, the Minister for Social Development said: “We did account for a bit of a Christmas uplift at one-off this year, as we’ve done, I think, every year since this administration.”
Special Christmas Payment To Civil Servants
In addition to the Christmas payment for veterans, the question was posed whether the general civil service would also receive something at Christmas.
In response, Premier Juliana Yvonne O’Connor-Connolly said:“We’ll be looking at that…. Watch this space.”
