After receiving our first Covid-19 case in March, the Government of Aruba introduced a relief period for the application process for social assistance (bijstand). It recently announced that it had been extended with 3 more months, so it is valid until February 28, 2021.
Normal process for social assistance
The application process for social assistance is based on laws, and all calculations are regulated by law. Everyone who applies to receive temporary financial aid and eligible to receive this temporary aid will get this based on how their situation fits within social assistance law.
Temporary relief period
In March, a temporary relief period was introduced to speed up the application process for social assistance. Meaning that some temporary exceptions were made in regards to complying with DPL and Medwork.
Amount of new applications
The social assistance department at the Department of Social Affairs (DAS) has received up to November 5, 2020, 1662 new applications. Workers from other internal departments had to take some courses to assist the social assistance department with “data-entry” to facilitate the consultant’s job in processing new applications.
Final
Ultimately, DAS wants to inform that if a client is not happy with whatever decision, a complaint can be filed at DAS by handing in a copy to the administrative department of de ‘bezwaarcommissie’ LAR. It must be filed within 6 weeks of the date on the notification letter.
For more information or any questions about social assistance, please contact DAS at 528-1100 or 528-1110 or ‘like’ our Facebook page “Departamento di Asunto Social.”
