Since last Monday, the Department of Workforce Development has received an additional 1,803 applications bringing the total to 11,001 as of this morning.
Since the launch of the fund on the 25th March 2020, some 5,008 have been paid the benefit totalling over $7.7 million. I am aware that some are still waiting for their benefit and need access to these funds as soon as possible. I am pleased to advise that approximately 2,500 applicants who have not yet received benefit will receive their benefit tomorrow. These payments will total approximately $2.3 million. This is quite an achievement and I must thank my colleague, the Minister of Finance, and his team for pulling out all stops to make this happen. Those who have already been paid and remain eligible for the benefit will receive their next payment on Friday May 1st.
Workforce Development started this project with a staff of 14 just over four weeks ago and now have a team of some 92 working on this project. They will continue to work diligently on this until the project and engage more resources as needed until it ends. I would like to thank them for their work and the dedication they have shown with staff working evenings and weekends to process the applications as quickly as possible. I am aware that many applicants have been frustrated in the delays of getting their benefit and equally frustrated with being unable to get through on the help lines.
If you have applied for the benefit on or before the 6th April and by Friday 1st May have not received any benefit, or been advised that you are ineligible, then you should contact the call centre for assistance.
We have updated the call center to ensure that calls are routed to the next available customer service representative. Please call the call center numbers 297-7714 and 297-7716 during normal business hours which have been upgraded to handle the volume of calls. The Unemployment Benefit Form can be found at www.gov.bm. Emails can also be sent to unemploymentbenefit@gov.bm for assistance.