$3.4 Million Paid In Unemployment Benefit
The Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sports Lovitta Foggo confirmed that around 3,811 individuals have been paid the unemployment benefit, which represents a total of just over $3.4 million, and by Friday a further 1,197 applicants will have been paid for an additional cost of $966,000, bringing the total applicants paid to 5,008.
Minister Lovitta Foggo said, “The Government is working tirelessly to do what is necessary to financially assist our fellow Bermudians during this pandemic.
“While there are a number of applications in train, to date I can confirm that around 3,811 individuals have been paid an unemployment benefit. This represents a total of just over $3.4 million.
“Many have received their initial payments and more will be receiving payments today [April 13] and on Friday [April 17]. By Friday we estimate a further 1,197 applicants will have been paid for an additional cost of $966,000 bringing the total applicants paid to 5,008.
“Those who have received their Unemployment Benefit will have received two weeks of the benefit and as the two week anniversary approaches, they will be eligible to receive another payment. This will continue until they are either reemployed or the 12 weeks of benefit is up.
“During this time of unprecedented uncertainty the Government wants to make sure that no one will be left behind.
“To further expedite the payments we have brought in staff from other Departments to assist and are working with the larger employers to speed up the application process.
“We are here to assist and to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.
“As a reminder applications can be made online through either the Bermuda Job Board or at www.gov.bm.
“You do not need to pay a fee to anyone to assist you in submitting an application. There are a number of help line numbers to call for assistance:
- 297-7714
- 297-7716
- 707-5439
- 707-5438
- 707-5440
- 707-5442
“The ‘707’ numbers can also be contacted via WhatsApp.
“Our team continue to review the submitted applications to ensure that the applicant is eligible. They are approving and processing for payments those who are. We are working diligently to get these payments to you as quickly as we can.
“A number of payments have been delayed as applicants have not keyed in their correct bank account details. Please take care when completing your application to ensure that you have keyed in the correct details and have the supporting documents attached to your application.
“We recognize that there are a number of self-employed Bermudians who are not registered with the Office of the Tax Commissioner making them ineligible to receive the benefit.
“We recognize that some of these individuals are struggling financially and we are currently looking at ways to assist them.
“For those who are not eligible for the Unemployment Benefit, there are a number of options available under our consideration. This Government’s intention is that no one will go hungry. Please reach out if you are in this predicament and require assistance.
“Bermuda ‘we are our brother’s keeper’; and we will get through this together. Thank you.”
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- Live: Our continuously updated live blog here
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
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Supporting employees is admirable and credit due to the government.
However, as the US, UK and Canada are doing, businesses need immediate support or they will rapidly declare bankruptcy.
The numbers will be staggering.
At that point the government will need to permanently support the unemployed employees. That will be tragic.
To simply say we cannot afford it begs the question., can we afford not to?
How can individuals be assisted who lacks basic life skills and shack shack up? Unemployed due to corona shutdown until job reopens.
Misplaced / outdated important documents required to submit with application.
I hear the term fellow Bermudians, but does she not mean the Bermuda workforce? Surely the hard working guest worker who had no opportunity to escape the island, requires assistance too. Perhaps some clarification on this would help?
Thank you Bermuda Govt., just like Trump and his imps there will be nagative remarks.
So altogether, over 12 weeks, roughly 15 mill? Do not begrudge that but government’s finances are done
The 2020-2021 Budget was done on the day it was presented to the HOA, long before anyone was paying attention to Covid 19.
Anybody seen the Fin Min lately? He seems to be keeping a very low profile.
He’s gonna send you back to work to catch COVID-19. The Gov’t can’t sustain these payments. Just watch.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the next 6 months or so. The private sector is being ravaged and it is they who pay the taxes to support the bloated Government, many not working but on full pay. Taxes that pay the interest on the debt, made worse by hiring yet more people in the public sector requiring more debt to pay them. Tourism income will be non existent, so when will the Min of Finance announce the cuts that will be needed to significantly lower the cost of the public sector. The can can’t be kicked any more, It’s already way down the road.
Have put in application over a week ago, and have not heard anything since. I know they are extremely busy, and I appreciate that, but I have tried to reach by phone for 2 days and the main numbers are always busy, and no one answers the 707 numbers. How am I to know if there was an error in my application?
I love how government is processing peoples 2nd pay while some of us are still waiting for the first. No notice of being denied or approved. Try calling and its virtually impossible to get an answer. Whatsapp it stays on grey ticks.
I had submitted mine on the 28of March and still have not received a dime