Dear Claudienne

I submitted a funeral grant to the NIS office on Ripon Road in June last year on behalf of my friend who lives in Canada.

Her mother had died in Canada in 2009. My friend applied for the funeral grant and sent the death certificate and all the required documents to the NIS office.

It has been over six months since the application was made and the claim is still being processed.

I don’t understand why it is taking so long as local claims are processed within two to three weeks. She has requested that the funeral grant be sent to her in Canada.

Could you please find out why it is taking so long for them to process the claim.

LH

Dear LH

The NIS office said that the claim was processed. However, because the payment is to be sent overseas, the bank will be requested to prepare a draft to send to your friend and this process could take up to two months. The NIS said that your friend would receive the funeral grant in a shorter time if she requested the NIS office in writing to pay the money to you. You could then send the money to her. She could make the request by facsimile to the NIS number 922-6639. Please take identification when you go to the NIS office to collect the cheque.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

I am a retired teacher. I began receiving an advance on account of my pension (lump sum) and an alimentary allowance from the Accountant General. I have been receiving this alimentary allowance on a regular basis. However, it is a fraction of the reduced pension due to me.

When I got the first amount in August 2010, I was assured that the balance due to me would be paid in short order. A letter dated October 13, 2010 outlining the details of payment was sent to me.

Since December 2010 I have made repeated telephone calls to the Accountant General’s Department regarding the payment of the balance, and on each occasion I am informed that they are working on it. However, I am yet to receive same.

I am in dire need of this money to take care of health issues plaguing me.

Your kind assistance would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

VL

Dear VL

On March 2, we were told that the cheque was being prepared. On March 8 we were advised that the cheque was ready and would be mailed out to you. However, we note that you would prefer to collect the cheque in person from the Accountant General’s office on Monday March 14. Please take identification which the spokesman told Tell Claudienne should be either your passport, driver’s licence or the national voter registration card.

Good luck

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.