Pension books for 2023 to be distributed from August

Pension books for 2023 will be able to be picked up by pensioners beginning mid-August to December this year. This was the disclosure made by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, during a recent engagement with residents of the East Coast of Demerara.

Dr. Persud pointed out that the early distribution is part of efforts to ensure easy access of pension for senior citizens. “Before the end of this year, we will continue what I started last year, which is, making sure you get your pension books for next year, well in time for next year, well in advance of next year, so you don’t have to run around.  That service will be available to you from about mid-August all the way to the end of the year, so you can go anytime and pick it up,” the minister said.

Minister Persaud explained that officials of the ministry will visit communities to make distributions.

The minister disclosed that apart from the post offices, pensioners can also now access their pensions at Western Union and Money Gram locations nearest to them. She said that they also have the option of having their money deposited into their bank accounts.

“Pension is paid every day at Money Gram, Western Union, so you don’t have to go the first day of the month to get your pension, you can go any day and you get your pension, and you don’t have to line up for it,” Minister Persaud said.

Dr. Persaud noted that previously, pensioners had to visit post offices throughout the country on certain days which caused crowd build -ups.

“I don’t want you to line up or punish in the lines so, whether you choose to go to the post office or you choose to go to any one of those locations the pension is there for you, so that’s one, two if you want to have your pensions deposited in your bank account, we can do that for you too,” Minister Persaud explained.

The human services and social security minister revealed that in January of this year, the Government of Guyana earmarked $2.6B, to increase old age pension from $25,000 to $28,000, to the benefit of approximately 65,000 pensioners countrywide.