PATH

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PROGRAMME OF ADVANCEMENT
THROUGH HEALTH AND
EDUCATION (PATH) 

The Government of Jamaica in

focusing its efforts on advancing
social development initiated a
programme of safety net reform
in 2000. As part of the
reforms, the Programme of
Advancement Through Health
and Education (PATH) was
introduced as a Conditional
Cash Transfer
programme targeting vulnerable
households within the
population.  
The objectives of the
Programme are to:
1. Increase educational
attainment and improve
health outcomes of the poor
by breaking the inter-
generational cycle of
poverty.
2. Alleviate poverty by
increasing the value of
transfer to the poor.
3. Reduce child labour by
requiring children to have
minimum attendance in
school.
4. Serve as a safety net by
preventing families from
falling further into poverty
in the event of adverse
shock.

Since its launch in 2002, the

Programme of
Advancement Through Health
and Education (PATH),
administered by the Ministry of
Labour and Social Security
(MLSS), has become Jamaica’s
flagship social assistance
programme, currently providing
cash grants to approximately 350,000
beneficiaries.  
The programme is supported by
loans from the International
Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (World Bank) and
the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB).   

PATH Eligibility Criteria 

PATH applicants are invited to visit the Ministry

of Labour and Social Security’s o>ce in their
parish of residence to complete the application
process. The process may also be undertaken at
designated centres, communities or within
homes of the elderly or persons with
disabilities.   

Demographic and other socio-economic data
are collected on individual family members and

the information entered into the BeneIciary
IdentiIcation System (BIS).  The
BIS applies a Proxy Means Test to derive
the family’s score. Families that have attained a
score which is at or below the cut-oO point
established for the Programme are provisionally
selected to participate.  Final selection is subject
to veriIcation of the information provided
during the application interview process.  
BeneIts are delivered to families for a period of
four years, after which they are required to re-
apply and be reassessed for continued
eligibility. 
Documents Required for Application
Processing
Processing 
Birth Certificates for the Family Head 
Valid ID for the Family Head 

TRN for the Family Head 

Birth Certificates for all children living in the
household 
Birth Certificate for Adults 60 and over who
live in the household 

PATH Benefit Categories +

PATH Compliance Conditionalities +

Payment Delivery and Mechanism +

 

PATH A"liated Interventions 

Since the inception of PATH a

number
of supporting interventions/sub-
programmes have been
implemented in response
to beneficiary needs. The
following is a summary of the
major existing initiatives, which
can be accessed through the
Ministry’s network of Parish
Offices: 

Post-Secondary (Education) Grants +

Tertiary (Education) Bursaries +

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Public Assistance Division (PAD)

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Ministry Stories
MLSS Newsletter
 November 5, 2021

PATH Top Achievers

2018
 January 1, 2019

JIS MINISTRY OF
LABOUR AND SOCIAL
SECURITY YIR 201
 February 22, 2018

Departments Links
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PATH

Contact us
 Email : prunit@mlss.gov.jm
Labour: 1(876) 922-9500-17
 Security: 1(876) 922-8000-13
 View all offices

Opening Hours
Mondays  to Thursdays – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fridays – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays

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2018 Ministry of Labour and Social Security