The Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to review the Standards Means Test, which determines eligibility for access to social support programmes.
The Ministry said the review is intended to improve the speed and fairness of assessments and ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable citizens in keeping with current economic conditions.
The Standards Means Test is used to determine eligibility for several support programmes, including the Food Support Programme, the Public Assistance Grant, the Sowing Empowerment through Entrepreneurial Development Initiative, and selected General Assistance Grants.
The Ministry noted that the current test is based on 2016 economic data. The Committee will examine whether the existing poverty line and other indicators reflect the present economic and social realities of households across Trinidad and Tobago.
It will also review income considerations such as pensions, disability grants, and informal earnings, and identify challenges experienced by officers and applicants during the assessment process.
The Committee includes technical experts from the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, other government ministries, and the University of the West Indies Health Economics Unit. Its appointment took effect on October 8, 2025.
The Ministry stated that the initiative supports its goal of strengthening systems to ensure that social support is delivered accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with principles of fairness and transparency.
