The poverty line in Trinidad and Tobago has increased and these higher figures for destitution and vulnerability acknowledge the painful reality that life has become more expensive for ordinary citizens, says Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit.
“But most importantly, these revised thresholds mean that more genuinely vulnerable households will now qualify for assistance instead of being unfairly excluded under outdated criteria. Under this Government, social development will never be treated as an afterthought. The poor and vulnerable will never be invisible,” Mohit added in the House of Representatives on Friday.
She made the comment while delivering a statement on a review of the Standard Means Test (SMT) meant to strengthen protection for the poor and vulnerable. The revised SMT begins on June 1.
Mohit said for far too long, many vulnerable citizens had felt alienated by systems that appeared rigid, outdated and disconnected from the realities of inflation, rising living costs and changing social conditions.
“This Government made a commitment to change that. In March 2018, the Standard Means Test, commonly referred to as the SMT, was introduced to standardise eligibility criteria for several social assistance programmes, including the Food Support Programme, the Public Assistance Grant, the SEED Programme and selected General Assistance Grants,” Mohit told the House.
“However, while the framework itself remained important, the poverty line underpinning the system had not been substantively updated since 2016. That meant that for almost a decade, vulnerable families were being assessed using benchmarks established before dramatic increases in food prices, transportation costs, housing expenses, utilities and healthcare burdens and most importantly, the effects of the pandemic.”
Mohit said in July 2025, an Inter-Ministerial Committee was established to comprehensively review the SMT in an evidence-based review process. The Cabinet approved the committee’s recommendations in February 2026.
Mohit added, “One of the most significant reforms approved under the revised SMT framework is the updating of the poverty indicators themselves.”
She said the poverty line has moved from $1,439.02 to $2,044.23 per adult equivalent per month, an increase of 42.1 per cent. The indigence (extreme poverty or destitution) line has increased from $553.47 to $783.23 and the vulnerability line has also increased from $1,798.78 to $2,555.29, she said.
Noting Government’s policy reform and social justice thrust to deal with the increases, Mohit said another transformative reform approved by Cabinet is the introduction of a weighted income contribution model. Previously, household income calculations often overestimated the true financial capacity of families, the minister noted.
“Under the revised framework, the highest income earner contributes 100 per cent of income to the assessment, the second highest earner contributes 75 per cent, and all other earners contribute 50 per cent. This reform recognises the realities of dependency within households and allows assessments to better reflect actual living conditions,” Mohit said.
“Another progressive reform emerging from this review is the introduction of an Internet connectivity deduction of up to $316 per household per month because in 2026, Internet access is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity.
“Children require connectivity for education. Citizens require Internet access for employment opportunities, healthcare information, Government services, banking, and communication.”
Mohit added, “Importantly, for a single-income household assessed at the revised poverty threshold, the combined effect of the updated poverty line and Internet deduction may result in up to $921.21 in additional disposable income when determining eligibility. That adjustment alone may now allow a vulnerable family to qualify for the Public Assistance Grant where previously they would have been excluded.”
