Scrap iron dealers in need can apply for any of government’s social assistance grants.
That’s according to Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox, as she rejected claims made by Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit that people displaced by the ban on export of scrap iron were ineligible for state grants.
Mohit slammed Minister Cox on Thursday for saying workers affected by Government’s decision to ban scrap-iron exports for six months could apply to her ministry for grants.
Mohit claimed none of the people affected by the industry’s six-month closure would be “eligible for the grants.” She said any such assistance would not come in time before the re-opening of school next month.
However, Minister Cox, in response to Mohit’s claims via a Newsday report, said, “Scrap iron dealers can apply for any of the grants once they are eligible.”
“The Ministry has the responsibility to plan and determine the adequacy of its allocation each year. It is for this reason that Ministry approached the Parliament for an additional allocation, at mid-year and received this additional allocation to meet its projected expenditure in fiscal 2022.”
Cox said, “The Food Support Grant is offered to all eligible citizens and legal residents of TT. Scrap iron dealers in need of food can apply in the event that they are in need of food.”
Applicants must pass the standard means test to qualify for this grant.
The qualifying criteria include the applicants being citizens or legal residents of TT and passing a standard means test to show the net income for the household must be equal to or less than the household poverty line which is $1,439.
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