October 29, 2026
Labour and Social Security Ministry says operational focus clear as it seeks to meet January deadline for completion of ROOF payments
Written byNatalie Campbell
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says its operational focus is clear, as it seeks to meet the January 2027 deadline for completion of payments to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Melissa last year.
In its one year progress report on Hurricane Melissa recovery, the Ministry says it will resolve outstanding cases, reach every eligible household and ensure recovery is felt by those who need it most.
The Ministry’s target is to reach 90% of assessed households by the end of December with all remaining households receiving payments by January.
An additional $9.65 billion has been announced to complete ROOFS payments to eligible households. 11.3 billion has been disbursed so far.
According to the report, 49,002 beneficiaries have received ROOFS payments, as of October 27, representing nearly half of the 106,350 grant-eligible households assessed across Jamaica.
The Social Security Ministry says of the 106,350 grant-eligible households, a significant number of cases remain unresolved.
11,179 cases are verified and approved, awaiting disbursement. These households will be cleared for payment once the funds are received.
The Ministry indicates that this is the immediate priority as no further action is required from those beneficiaries.
42,175 cases require updated information or identity verification before payment can proceed.
The Ministry explains that ROOFS on the Road outreach operations are actively working to contact and assist these households to resolve outstanding documentation issues.
