Over 226,000 households graduated from extreme poverty after LEAP reassessment – Gender Minister

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has launched payments to eligible households under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme nationwide. The payments began on Monday, September 14, 2026, following a thorough reassessment and verification process by the Ministry to identify households that still need support.

LEAP is the government's primary cash transfer program aimed at helping extremely poor and vulnerable households meet basic needs, improve food security, access healthcare and education. This latest payment round is part of a "reset" for the programme, with the goal of enhancing targeting, transparency, and effectiveness. The reassessment was necessary as circumstances for LEAP beneficiaries can change over time, meaning some existing beneficiaries may still require assistance while others may no longer qualify and could transition out of the program.

At the same time, the exercise identified new extremely poor and vulnerable households that were previously not covered but now may qualify for support. The government has now enrolled eligible households towards a national LEAP caseload of 450,000 beneficiary households. Payments will be made through the approved LEAP payment system to households found eligible and successfully verified and enrolled.

Beneficiaries should not panic if they do not receive their payments immediately, as the payments are being rolled out in phases and may take time to reach all households and communities. Duly enrolled beneficiaries will receive official notifications and guidance from the LEAP Management Secretariat, District Social Welfare Offices, and authorized community-level officers.

The Ministry has provided toll-free numbers for enquiries and grievances to help beneficiaries address any issues they may have regarding their reassessment results, enrolment status, or payments. The Ministry has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Members of Parliament to support District Social Welfare Officers and help educate constituents about the reassessment and payment process.

The Ministry will continue to monitor the payment exercise and address any challenges that may arise during the rollout.