St Kitts and Nevis families to receive upto $600 under newly launched LIFT Programme

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis is all set to launch the Livelihood, Improvement Family Transformation - LIFT Programme which aims to enhance the livelihoods of families earning less than $2500 gross income per month. This new programme will replace the Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP) and is set to begin on April 1, 2024.

The new program will provide families with better programming, empowerment opportunities and sustainable social protection. The programme will provide cash transfer social assistance to eligible households and families up to $600.

According to the information, the programme is being launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. The aim behind launching the LIFT programme is to prioritize support for the unemployed with and without children, single parent families, persons with disabilities/caregivers of children with disabilities and seniors.

The Ministry announced that the applications by new families will be accepted from April 1, 2024. Additionally, for seniors currently on PAP, the Ministry said that no application or re-verified is required. LIFT benefits will continue and will be combined with social security pensions and will be administered by the St Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.

Also, for current PAP recipients eligible for LIFT Re-verification/update of information on original PAP application is required. From March 18 to 29, these individuals can access the PAP application portal at pap.gov.kn using SSN to update and re-submit application for LIFT benefits.

[caption id="attachment_69087" align="alignnone" width="1080"] LIFT Portal to open on April 1, 2024 (PC - Facebook)[/caption]

For eligible new applications, the Ministry said that they need to submit a complete application online through LIFT application portal. Individuals need to submit the following documents along with their application:

• Valid Social Security ID
• Proof of address (i.e. recent Utility Bill)
• Pay slips for past two months (where applicable)
• Copy of birth certificate for all minor citizens listed in application

Isalean Phillip, Minister of State of Social Development, during an appearance on InFocus outlined the benefits of the Livelihood, Improvement Family Transformation (LIFT) programme.

He said, “One of the things that we are looking to do is to be able to provide additional assistance, more money to families and households, and that would come as a result of what Pearce would have mentioned in terms of recognizing that multiple family units that are in singular households.”

The Minister said that this is the reason that the government is looking to see how it can support more families by providing some level of assistance, which ultimately would put more money into the household.

He also noted that the threshold have been reduced to be able to target more families who are vulnerable and added, “We've decided to relax the $500 per household benefit, and the policy around that is relaxed to be able to do that.”

Minister Phillip said that for LIFT, it will become part of the programming to host sessions where officials can get an an assessment of the people and what they are interested in, what their needs are, and see how the officials can connect them to wraparound services.