The AVP-Futuro Cabinet plans to introduce a monthly allowance of Afl. 500 for parents of children with physical or intellectual disabilities. The bill will be presented to Parliament today, and proposes providing the financial support for each eligible child, regardless of the parents’ income or employment status. Parliament must approve the proposal before the allowance can take effect.
Prime Minister Mike Eman and Minister of Social Affairs Mervin Wyatt-Ras will present the bill. The government’s goal is to secure parliamentary approval before the end of the year so payments can begin on January 1, 2027.
The proposed allowance would amount to Afl. 500 per month for each eligible child. Parents with more than one child who meets the requirements would therefore be entitled to receive the payment for each child.
Financial support regardless of income
Under the proposal, parents would qualify for support once their child receives a medical diagnosis for a condition covered by the program. These conditions reportedly include ADHD, autism, visual or hearing impairments, and physical disabilities.
The government has established a committee to determine exactly which conditions and groups will qualify under the law. A medical diagnosis will be central to determining eligibility, based on criteria that will be established.
The proposal does not set an income limit. This means both parents receiving social assistance and those earning a regular salary could qualify, provided their child meets the requirements.
Help with additional expenses
The monthly allowance is intended to help parents cover the additional costs associated with their child’s condition and specific needs. These expenses may include purchasing a specialized bed, modifying a home to accommodate a wheelchair, paying for special education or private speech therapy and psychological services, or buying specialized food.
Every child’s needs are different, but the goal is to give families greater financial flexibility to provide the necessary care and support.
The proposed allowance would cover children from birth through age 18. The government has already introduced a disability benefit (Gehandicaptenuitkering) for young people aged 16 and older who are unable to work because of a disability.
The new allowance is intended to provide a transition to this existing benefit. However, the details of how the two arrangements will work together still need to be clarified as the legislation is developed.
Number of eligible children still unknown
The government does not yet have an estimate of how many children in Aruba would qualify for the allowance. It therefore plans to start with a monthly payment of Afl. 500 and evaluate the program’s impact and the number of beneficiaries. Depending on the results and available financial resources, an increase could be considered later.
With this proposal, the AVP-Futuro Cabinet is adding another social measure to its initiatives, which include pension increases, additional assistance for school-age children, and efforts to raise the minimum wage.
However, the allowance is still only a proposal. Parents will not be able to receive the payments until Parliament has approved the bill.
