Senior citizens to start receiving $20K travel allowance on July 8

Senior citizens across Guyana will start receiving the promised $20,000 travel allowance from Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud announced on Friday. Over 90,000 senior citizens across Guyana are expected to benefit from this first-time annual transportation grant, representing an additional $1.9 billion in direct support for persons aged 65 and over.
The travel allowance forms part of the Government’s continued commitment to improving the quality of life for senior citizens. Combined with the Old Age Pension, which was increased to $46,000 per month in January 2026, the Government will provide more than $54 billion annually in financial support to pensioners nationwide. Senior citizens who receive their old age pension through banks or MMG will have the $20,000 travel allowance deposited directly into their accounts before the end of July 2026, eliminating the need to visit a distribution centre.

Meanwhile, pensioners who collect their benefits using the Old Age Pension Book are required to take their 2026 booklet to the nearest Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Probation and Social Services Office to have a $20,000 value stamp affixed to the first of the two additional pages located at the back of the book, which is marked “for official use”. The stamped voucher can then be cashed at any post office or other alternate payment venue, such as SurePay, MoneyGram, Bill Express or Western Union.
Minister Persaud stated, “This annual transportation grant is provided for the first time to pensioners. This $20,000 is here to ensure that you can travel with peace of mind. It is here to erase the worry of the journey and to keep you connected to the people and places you love and need to visit.” She further added, “We see you, and we will always smooth the path before you. Thank you for your lifetime of service. You will always be at the very heart of everything we do. Your Government continues to deliver on our commitment to you to continuously improve your quality of life.” Pensioners can access the travel allowance starting July 8 until the end of October 2026.
The senior citizens’ travel allowance was among the measures announced by the PPP/C Government during the presentation of Budget 2026 by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening social protection and providing meaningful financial assistance to Guyana’s senior citizens.