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Last night we gave you an in-depth look at the candid conversation that led to the resignation of SSB chairman Dough Singh. You'll recall that Singh made some disparaging comments which he later admitted could distract from the PM's COVID time relief efforts. 

But even without their chairman, the SSB is soldering on, still hard at work to ensure that Belizeans receive their long-awaited unemployment relief funds.

And as of noon today, Thursday, April 16th, a total of 65,762 applications had been submitted online. Of those applications, 23,264, have been approved and sent to the Social Security Board. This afternoon approved payments were sent to banks and credit unions for deposit.

So, if you haven't received your funds by tomorrow your application may be one of the 1,117 still being vetted for approval or one of 26,184 applications that remain to be reviewed.

But according to GOB, it's not for lack of trying and in a press release today they said quote: "In order to ensure that payments to those in need were not delayed, in cases where it was not possible to confirm on a timely basis that persons should be excluded, applications may have been approved." Those approvals may be revoked on second verification in which case the payments received would have to be paid back. 

Applicants who requested payment by ATM top-up card will be notified when and where their cards will be ready for pick-up.

So far, 15,197 applications have been excluded because applicants are: Below 18 years, Not Belizean nationals, or already a beneficiary of a pension, or BOOST program

Further exclusions are being applied to persons who are: Public Officers, Teachers, currently employed, and those laid off in March 2020 by the Belize Tourism Board.