By Leiselle Maraj Thursday, August 20 2009

Members of the Government Daily Rated Retirees Association are appealing to Social Development Minister Dr Amery Browne to ensure that 268 members receive the full amount for the senior citizens grant or face protest action.

Association vice chairman George Joseph yesterday said members met with Browne earlier this month to express their concern about receiving only $800 a month as their grant.

He explained these retirees previously got a grant of $1,550, which was increased from $1,250 with the 2008-2009 Budget. Together with a $2,000 retirement benefit paid monthly by the National Insurance Board (NIB), these retirees would have received a total of $3,550.

However in January, the ministry readjusted the grant for all pensioners and those receiving the NIB benefit of $2,000, were paid only $800 for a total of $2,800.

Joseph said the retirees were upset because their combined income of the NIB benefit and the grant was reduced.

He said Browne had advised the association to put their grievances in writing and they would receive a reply. The association subsequently contacted Browne who said their letter was submitted to the Finance Ministry for review. Public relations officer Kelvin Marshall explained, “We receive our grant of $800 at the beginning of the month and our benefit around the 15th of each month. When we receive our grant we have to decide whether to buy food or to pay bills since we only have until the third of each month to pay our light, water and other bills or else we have to pay a penalty.”

He added that services such as Chronic Disease Assistant Programme (CDAP), free spectacles and free bus passes, did not provide much relief since CDAP drugs were of a poor quality, opticians were withdrawing their services because of a lack of funding from government and some of their members in areas like Toco could not benefit from the free bus pass since there is no bus service in the area.