Pension payment to commence on September 1

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry has announced that payment of Old Age Pensions will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at post offices countrywide.
The Ministry is cognisant that in previous months, payment would commence approximately one week before the actual month’s disbursement.
The early payment system was implemented to ensure that Old Age Pensions and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Pensions disbursement schedules did not overlap to prevent overcrowding at the post offices.
However, Old Age Pensions and NIS Pensions payments would not coincide for the month of September. The early pension payment system would resume for October.
The Ministry stated that the alphabetical system using surnames/last names will be employed for senior citizens to receive their payment during the first five payment days of the month at post offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.
Senior citizens will be paid as follows:
* Surnames/last names beginning with the letters A to D on Tuesday, September 1, 2020
* Surnames/last names beginning with the letters E to K on Wednesday, September 2, 2020
* Surnames/last names beginning with the letters L to P on Thursday, September 3, 2020
* Surnames/last names beginning with the letters Q to T on Friday, September 4, 2020
* Surnames/last names beginning with the letters U to Z on Monday, September 7, 2020 (the fifth payment day)
The Ministry also reiterated that the alphabetical system would only be used during the first five payment days. However, senior citizens will be allowed to cash his/her coupon/s on any day after the fifth payment day.
In keeping with the guidelines provided by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), post offices continue to enforce physical distancing between individuals accessing their services. This measure limits the number of individuals who can enter any post office at any given time. Persons visiting the offices are asked to wear protective masks and sanitise their hands before entry.