Tag: Needs Assessment Unit
New bill to overhaul future of welfare support
(CNS): Less than sixteen months after taking office, the minister responsible for social welfare has presented a new bill to overhaul the public assistance regime and create a new system to help the most vulnerable in the community. The Financial Assistance Bill, which repeals the existing Poor Persons (Relief) Law, is now open for public […]
Social assistance application goes digital
(CNS): A new online form has been launched for clients of the Needs Assessment Unit to apply for financial assistance as part of government’s overhaul of the country’s welfare system. The new website and online application process is expected to reduce the number of times people need to visit the NAU office in George Town, […]
André promises radical change for those in need
(CNS): Social Development Minister André Ebanks has promised “transformative change” across the social services landscape of the Cayman Islands, which includes repealing and replacing the “horribly titled” Poor People’s Relief Act in the first quarter of next year and a significant increase in investment in what will become the Financial Assistance Department. According to the […]
eGov Unit helps NAU reach clients online
(CNS): People seeking assistance from the Needs Assessment Unit can now apply for that help online as a first step to making the process easier. For the last few months the eGovernment Unit has been working with NAU staff to come up with a series of recommendations to enhance their work processes and interactions with […]
Welfare problems neglected for years
(CNS): The report released by the Office of the Auditor General yesterday highlights the last government’s neglect of the welfare system throughout its time in office. Over two administrations, the PPM failed to develop appropriate policies, leaving the departments that deal with those in need in a perpetual state of crisis management.
NAU goes to districts to reach clients
(CNS): The Needs Assessment Unit has launched a pilot project in which NAU officers go out into the community to meet with those who most need help. The ‘NAU in Our District’ initiative assisted 41 vulnerable people in its first six sessions in district public libraries and civic centres. Officials said most of the new […]
Civil service helps top up NAU budget
(CNS): Government employees and elected officials have begun donating some of their salaries to the ‘CIG Cares’ initiative recently announced by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. The first of the payroll charitable contributions will be going to the Needs Assessment Unit to cover food vouchers. The NAU is currently supporting more than 3,000 families and demand […]
Home working here to stay for civil service
(CNS): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has said that the “silver lining” from COVID-19 has been the seamless transition many civil servants made to doing their jobs at home. Manderson said that home working would become a more common option in future, even as public sector offices start to reopen, because of how well some civil […]
One-off vouchers go to WP holders in need
(CNS): As government works on arranging airlifts for stranded foreign workers, now without jobs and unable to look after themselves, some of those in desperate need began receiving one-off food vouchers this week, each worth $150. The first vouchers were handed out Tuesday and more will be handed out Thursday. A total of 76 applications, […]
NAU receives 81 new applications
(CNS): The Needs Assessment Unit, which deals with welfare support, has received 81 new applications from families since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Cayman, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Tuesday. Following what appears to be some concern in the community that local people who are making new applications are not being helped, the premier said that […]
Woman discharged on NAU fraud conviction
(CNS): A 66-year-old woman walked away from court without a conviction Thursday, despite having admitted a fraud related charge after she failed to declare she owned a house worth around $290,000 while claiming money from the Needs Assessment Unit. Hermine Stoney had claimed poor relief for a seven year period, receiving just under $30,000. But […]
