Cost of Living Cash Credit beneficiaries continue to rise

Government has paid out over $28 million in the Cost of Living Cash Credit (COLCC) programme since it began in April, with the number of beneficiaries steadily climbing to 58 148 in August.

The initiative provides $100 monthly from April 2026 to March 2027, with funding coming from the Consolidated Fund.

However, while Government projected that about 60 000 people would benefit from the $100 monthly payment, the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) said it could not determine how many eligible Barbadians have yet to be captured.

With six more months left in the programme, the latest figures released by NISSS chief executive officer (CEO) Kim Tudor show the number of beneficiaries rising each month.

The NISSS’ monthly metrics put the April beneficiary figure at 54 300, increasing to 56 259 in May, 56 841 in June, 57 601 in July and 58 148 in August. That represents an increase of 3 848 beneficiaries between April and August.

The initial April payment reported by NISSS was $5 391 700 to 53 917 eligible registered beneficiaries. Using the monthly beneficiary figures supplied by the NISSS, payments rose to $5.6259 million in May, $5.6841 million in June, $5.7601 million in July and $5.8148 million in August.

The August figure of 58 148 was just 1 852 short of the approximately 60 000 Government originally projected, but the NISSS could not say whether that gap represented the remaining number of eligible people.

“As at August 2026, 58 148 individuals are eligible for the Cost of Living Cash Credit, including 3 172 non-pensioned persons without other income aged 65 years and over,” Tudor said.

She added the figure also included seniors who have no national insurance registration record, did not make the minimum contributions needed for an old-age contributory pension, do not qualify for specified pension or welfare benefits, and had no income from employment or other sources during 2025, based on Barbados Revenue Authority records.

“However, NISSS does not possess a definitive list of all eligible persons who are not NIS (National Insurance Scheme) registered. All individuals aged 65 years and over without pension or other income who identify themselves and register for the COLCC will be paid,” Tudor said, adding that all registered people undergo an assessment to be deemed eligible to receive current and retroactive $100 payments due under the programme.

The CEO also revealed that none of the beneficiaries opted for the alternative quarterly (starting from this month) or one-off March 2027 payment arrangements.

While there were complaints about payment delays when the programme was launched, Tudor said directdeposit problems experienced in April and during the launch of BiMPay had been resolved.

“Our accounts section conclusively resolved lodgement (direct-deposit) transaction challenges experienced in April 2026, as well as during the recent launch of BiMPay,” she said.

In August, NISSS disbursed $94.83 million to 65 487 beneficiaries across its pension and government pension categories, excluding COLCC payments to the 58 148 recipients.

Tudor could not provide a projected total cost for the COLCC programme, saying that fell outside their administrative responsibility, and directed those questions to the Ministry of Finance, which authorises the COLCC funding.

NISSS said its registration drive continues through public education, radio, social media and in-person outreach.

Seniors aged 65 and over without a pension or other income can still register at the NISSS or online. (NS)

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