The government has begun paying beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme following a nationwide reassessment of households receiving the cash transfer.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection said payments to eligible households started on Monday, September 14, 2026, as part of efforts to make the programme more targeted and ensure assistance reaches households that remain extremely poor and vulnerable.
The reassessment has also paved the way for an expansion of the programme, with government working towards a national caseload of 450,000 beneficiary households.
According to the Ministry, the review was necessary because the circumstances of beneficiary households change over time. While some households continue to require financial assistance, others may have improved sufficiently to leave the programme, creating room for newly identified vulnerable households to be enrolled.
Households that qualified after the reassessment have undergone verification and enrolment and will receive their grants through the authorised LEAP payment system.
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The Ministry cautioned beneficiaries against interpreting delays in receiving payments as exclusion from the programme, explaining that the disbursement is being undertaken in phases across the country.
It urged successfully enrolled beneficiaries to wait for official notifications from the LEAP Management Secretariat, District Social Welfare Offices and authorised community-level officers rather than travelling unnecessarily to payment centres.
The Ministry said payments would continue until the current cycles are completed.
It also warned beneficiaries and members of the public that no fee, commission or facilitation charge is required to enrol on LEAP or receive payments.
Anyone who demands money or any other consideration in connection with the programme is to be reported through the established grievance channels.
The Ministry said a grievance and redress system was available for households dissatisfied with the outcome of the reassessment, experiencing problems with enrolment or verification, or facing difficulties receiving their payments.
Beneficiaries are expected to first contact their Community Focal Person or District Social Welfare Office, with unresolved matters capable of being escalated to the LEAP Management Secretariat.
The Secretariat has provided 0800 800 800 and 0800 900 900 as toll-free numbers for enquiries and complaints. It can also be reached on 0303 969 399.
The Ministry said complaints could cover non-payment, enrolment and verification difficulties, demands for unauthorised payments, fraud, misconduct and other concerns connected to the programme.
It has meanwhile called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to support social welfare officers and other authorised personnel to ensure that payments proceed smoothly and accurate information reaches beneficiary communities.
Members of Parliament have also been asked to help educate constituents about the reassessment and payment process while directing individual complaints through the formal grievance system.
The Ministry said government remained committed to improving the targeting, transparency and accountability of LEAP and ensuring that social protection resources reach households that need them most.
It said the latest payment exercise represented a significant step in the ongoing reset of the programme and pledged to monitor implementation and address challenges that arise.
