Cash Assistance Update

By: Tosimaeʻa Tupua

Email: tupua@opi.as.gov

More than 250 thousand dollars have already been paid out to approximately 414 applicants under the Cash Assistance program (CAP) for private employees. During the Task force committee’s weekly press conference today, Lt Governor Talauega confirmed a total of 3547 applications were received by the Department of Human Resources and from that number a total of 253 applications were rejected for various reasons including incomplete information and incorrect telephone numbers.

Lt Governor Governor said, “Staff have calling phone numbers provided on the applications but no one answers so it's delaying the follow up to confirm information before payment is made.” Taluega also said, others rejected were unable to confirm the validity of employment or have not shown proof they filed local taxes. There are currently 2, 630 applications still pending and the department of human resources is working to process these applications and finalize payments.

The deadline to apply was June 1 however the department is still processing applications that were made. The CAP is funded by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will cover the period from February 22, 2022, through April 18, 2022 and it l provide up to $240.00 per week for qualified workers for the period that they were furloughed due to the Public Health Emergency Declaration on February 22, 2022.