The Governor, with the support of the Minister of Health and Social Development, oversees a wholesale review of the Virgin Islands welfare benefits and grants system, including HOA Members’ Assistance Grants and Government Ministries’ Assistance Grants, with a view to moving towards an open, transparent and single (or, at least, coherent) system of benefits, based on clearly expressed and published criteria without unnecessary discretionary powers.

MHSD Project Steering Committee oversees comprehensive review of social assistance benefits and governmental grants administration system by recruited specialised consulting firm based on developed ToRs.

Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) finalises Social Protection Policy and Action Plan (Social Assistance Strategy) drafted by MHSD along with drafting instructions for supporting legislation, based on the findings and recommendations from the Review, and based on Cabinet decision.

MHSD develops a modern vetting application process which considers the living wage amount determined by CSO.

HOA introduces legislation in accordance with the recommendations of the wholesale review of the Virgin Islands welfare benefits and grants system to institute recommendations of review and remove unnecessary discretionary powers of Ministers to approve assistance grants in Ministries.

The Governor and Premier pre-approve programme design, criteria and monitoring and evaluation framework of any Ministry assistance grant considered necessary by the wholesale review of the Virgin Islands welfare benefits and grants system.