DO NOT DESPAIR, FINANCIAL HELP FOR COVID-19 IS HERE!

Starting this week (April 9) Jamaicans who have been affected through loss of employment or those just experiencing hard times can begin applying to receive monetary grants from the government. Dubbed the Covid Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme, this is quick responsive support plan devised by Jamaica’s innovative Finance Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke.

WHAT IS CARE

The CARE is a temporary programme in which cash is given to individuals and small businesses to cushion the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the heart of the programme is immediate help for the Jamaican worker and also help for the businesses that employ them.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT CARE

The money to be given through CARE is NOT a loan, but a grant which means you don’t have to pay it back.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM CARE

There are a total of nine (9) categories under which grants or other support can be provided for persons and businesses who qualify. Jamaica Global Online has selected six (6) of these categories to highlight for our readership.

1. WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF OR LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE OF THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

This category is called SET CASH and is available to anyone who was in a job up to March 10 and who was terminated or laid off since March 10 and up to June 30. If you apply and qualify, you will get J$9,000 every two weeks up to June. To qualify for this money:

• Your taxable income has to be no more than J$1.5 million a year
• Your employers must have paid all your statutory deductions by filing a P45 form
• You have to apply online to wecare.gov.jm starting April 9, giving your full name, address, TRN, the name of your employer; the date when you lost your job and your bank account information.

2. SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS

If you operate a small business and have an annual turnover of J$50M or less, you can apply for a one-time grant of J$100,000. To qualify for this money, this is what is required:

• Your company tax filing must be up to date for the financial year 2019/2020
• You must have filed payroll taxes using the SO1 form to show that you have employees
• You have to apply online to wecare.gov.jm

starting April 9, 2020, providing TRN and bank account information. The money will be paid within 30 days of a successful application.

3. SELF-EMPLOYED BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS, BEAUTY

TRERAPISTS, COSMETOLOGISTS,MARKET VENDORS, TAXI AND BUS OPERATORS

You can apply for a one-time COVID General Grant of J$25,000 if:

• You are registered with a Municipal Authority at any time over the last two years, that is April 2018-April 30, 2020
• As a taxi or bus operator you are registered with the Transport Authority by April 30, 2020

(***note that for these two categories there is still time to register****)

4. BAR AND NIGHT CLUB OPERATORS

You can apply for a one-time grant of J$40,000 if:

• You are registered with a Municipal Authority by April 30.The same amount is available to Craft Vendors, JUTA, Maxi and JCAL operators who are registered with the Tourism Product development Company (TPDCo) as at April 30, 2020.  

5. STUDENTS AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL

The Covid-19 Student Loan Relief Programme does NOT have a cash grant component. Instead it provides for a deferral of student loan principal and interest payments for three (3) months until July 2020. You don’t need to apply for this facility as it automatically applies to all persons repaying loans to the Students Loan Bureau.

6. NOT EMPLOYED, DON’T OPERATE A BUSINESS OR NOT SELF-EMPLOYED, IS THERE FINANCIAL HELP AVAILABLE?

Yes, there is something called a ‘Compassionate Grant’  which is available to anyone in need, including tertiary level students, informally employed persons, the elderly or pensioners and who are not  formally employed. You can get a one-time grant of J$10,000 but you must have a TRN number in order to apply for this.  How to go about getting this money?

• You have to apply online starting on April 9, 2020 to wecare.gov.jm giving your name, TRN and your address
• You also have to give your bank account number but if you don’t have one you can have the money sent to a remittance company
• You can apply using a computer or a mobile phone and you should not be afraid to ask a family member or someone trustworthy to help if you are not confident or unable to complete the application.

IMPORTANT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED AND TIPS GOING FORWARD FROM THIS COVID-19 EXPERIENCE 

1. Every Jamaican of working age should apply for and have a Tax Registration Number (TRN)
2. It pays to register your business whether you are a self-employed one man or one woman operation, or a small business employing a few people. You don’t have to form a company but there are other options like registering a business name which will facilitate your doing business with the government and being eligible for certain Otherwise you must regularize your operation by registering with the Municipal Authority of the parish in which you operate or in the case of a taxi or private bus, with the Transport Authority.
3. If you are an employer you must ensure that your

employee deductions are paid over promptly to the government, thus protecting them and providing the

revenue government needs to deliver social services

to the most disadvantaged in the society; and to help YOU in times of national crisis, like now.

4. If you are a self-employed person you should make the

required statutory returns within the prescribed period and pay over the taxes that are due to the government.