7 News Belize

Unemployment Relief Program Starts With A Trickle
posted (April 9, 2020)

60 thousand people have applied for urgent assistance under the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program - and up to today, only 1,500 names have been approved and processed for payment.

Those payments were sent to Social Security this morning at about 10:00, but this evening we can confirm that only about 500 of that 1,500 got payment, and those are the persons who have accounts at Atlantic Bank.

So that’s a little more than 500 out of a long line of exactly 59,500 persons who have applied and been approved for the assistance program. It’s 150 dollars bi - weekly and for those who have lost their jobs and are feeding their families noodles and sausage, it can’t come too quickly. Tour operator Tom Greenwood says many of them are his members:

Tom Greenwood - FECTAB

"The situation is dire Jules, there are as far as I can remember, 1,983 guides, those are only the guides, there are hundreds or tour operators, there are hundreds of families Jules that have nothing to eat, our people are starving, we are starving, please understand this."

Jules Vasquez

"Most of the payments will be distributed until next week, so 1,500 only have gone out, I don't know if those will reach people's accounts by the end of business today, it likely will not. Have your operators received any of these disbursements?"

Tom Greenwood

"Not that I know of because we get regular messages from people all over the country and I have yet to receive one that says, I began getting my thing today, it's going too slowly, much too slowly Jules. Some of us, that have a little left in our pockets, we're providing ramen for god sake, that is the most vile food on this planet but it's cheap and available and we're providing ramen to people. This thing hurts me beyond, I will tell you the truth Jules, I sat down at home and I cried, I couldn't stop, I cried and I think here is a bunch of people who are native Belizeans, who built an industry, who provided for so many people and then have to wait weeks for something to happen that couldn't happen fast enough. Our backs are against the wall, we don't know what to do next."

So, when will payments go out? Well, as we told you, the Chairman of the Social Security Board, Doug Singh says Social security did get the payments cleared at Atlantic Bank today and those accounts should have already been credited. He said they were unable to get it through the Belize, Bank and Scotia Bank on time - and he was unsure of Heritage Bank. Those with Credit Union accounts will have to wait until next week Tuesday.

And according to the Government’s economic car Dr. Carla Barnett by next week Wednesday, at least 25 thousand more payments to eligible persons will be processed and disbursed.

And the last 30 plus thousand? Well, they are expected to get disbursements within two weeks.

Barnett said they are concentrating as a first priority on persons who already have bank accounts.

Barnett stresses that applicants should make an extra effort to have their name and all their particulars and entered correctly - since small errors in the spelling of names, Social Security numbers, or telephone numbers have caused delays. Forms for the relief program can be found at COVID19.BZ . Those who are ineligible and should not apply are:

1. Those who are not Belizean nationals

2. Those laid off in March 2020 by the Belize Tourism Board

3. Those under 18 years of age

4. And, those receiving benefits from other government or social security programs

If you need help to fill out the form, a short instructional video can is on the www.covid19.bz website.

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