COVID-19 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING

IN OUR EFFORTS to offer as much tangible support to our members during this time of Covid-19, we’re writing to let you know about recently-launched government-funded social initiatives which may be of some help to you and those who are being financially impacted by Covid. Please note that should you have any questions or you need further information on eligibility, supporting documents, application materials etc, please contact the following hotline number: 800-1MSD (800 -1673)  OR visit the Ministry of Finance website.  We’ll continue to update you on government and other funding/ relief initiatives as they become available.

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WHAT GOVERNMENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AS AN EMPLOYEE?
– Income Support
– Food Support
– Rental Fee Support

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ABOUT THE FUND
The government of Trinidad and Tobago would like to mitigate the financial challenges experienced by persons who were retrenched, terminated or experienced reduced income as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), for a period not exceeding three months.

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WHO CAN APPLY?
To be eligible for these funding programmes, you will have to have been retrenched/ terminated and your reduced income must have occurred on or after March 1st, 2020. 

Thefamily may comprise one or more persons. A one-person family is defined as the person who is solely responsible for the livelihood of his/ her entire family; or a multi-person family is a group of two or more persons, inclusive of offspring, living together who make common provision for food or other essentials for the livelihood of the entire family.

Applicants must have been retrenched/ terminated, or have experienced reduced income, and where the reduced gross income (minus statutory deductions) of the family does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month.

Only ONE person from each affected family can submit an application.

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WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?

• All applicants are required to complete an application form (available online only) and submit along with his/ her supporting documents. See the application for self-employed persons here and the application for employers/ employees here.
• All applicants must complete the form and attach soft copies of his/her supporting documents. 
• Your supporting documents will differ depending on if you are an employee of a company or you are self-employed.

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For further information on eligibility, supporting documents, application materials etc, please contact the following hotline number: 800-1MSD (800 -1673)  OR visit the Ministry of Finance website.