President Ali announces $28,000 one-off grant for pensioners

On Thursday an additional $28,000 one-off cash grant for each old-age pensioner before the end of the year was announced by President Irfaan Ali.

It was noted that the one-off grant will provide an additional $1.8B GUY in disposable income to the nation’s pensioners.

Ali while addressing the nation, said this new measure adds to the host of measures, policies and programmes being implemented by the government to improve the lives of senior citizens.

“To our senior citizens, I wish to say that the government will continue to respect and honor the service you have given to our country over the years as we continue to take all the steps necessary to ensure that the quality of life you enjoy, continue to improve in every regard,” he said.

President Ali stressed that since the government assumed office in August 2020, old age pension was increased from $22,500GUY to 25,000GUY and from 25,000GUY to 28,000GUY in 2022.

“Cumulatively, this amounts to more than 36 per cent increase granted in two years and place a total of approximately $22 billion in the hands of our old age pensioners annually,” the President noted.

It was revealed that in 2021, a one-off grant of $25,000GUY was paid to pensioners, which placed an additional amount of $1.6B GUY in the hands of pensioners.

It was noted that beyond these measures, the water subsidy for old age pensioners was also introduced, providing an additional disposable income of $200M GUY to 27,000 pensioners.

Moreover, the Head of State noted that a number of interventions were made to make it easier for pensioners to access their entitlements by providing alternative payment venues. Special arrangements were also made for shut-in residents, including persons living with disabilities and persons who do not have close access to the post office.

Further, the nation’s seniors continue to benefit from the across-the-board investments by the government, particularly to improve the public healthcare system. These include the construction and upgrade of a number of first-class hospitals and regional health centres, and improved and increased availability of drugs.

Additionally, the head of state is optimistic that the additional support announced by the government will go a far away in helping the pensioners.