Apply Online: Apply for Financial Assistance Online | DFA - DFA
Application for Financial Assistance
Before starting your application for financial assistance, please take a moment to review this page. We have simplified the process to make it easier for you.
The DFA is here to help individuals facing financial difficulties in covering essential needs like shelter, food, and clothing. We offer support for various living expenses, which you can explore in detail.
The amount of assistance we provide depends on your household's financial gap – the difference between your income and expenses. Assistance categories are determined based on this deficit, ensuring help is directed where it is needed most. Financial assistance may be granted when your expenses exceed your income.
You will need to be signed in to an eServices account to complete your application. If you do not have one, it is quick and easy to create an account. An eServices account offers the convenience of saving your application progress. If you encounter difficulties creating an eServices account, you can authorize a representative or seek help from an organization or the Department of Financial Assistance.
Once we receive a complete application (application form and supporting documents), you can expect a decision within 10 working days.
In cases of incomplete applications, you will have 30 calendar days to submit any missing information or documentation. Failure to provide this within 30 calendar days will result in the closure of your application, requiring you to start a new one.
To complete this application, you will need the following information for all household members:
Personal Information for All Household Members:
- Full Legal Name
- Date of Birth
- Country of Birth
- Physical Address
- Contact Information
- Marital Status
- Employment Status
- Immigration Status
Household Financial Information for All Household Members:
- Monthly income details
- Monthly expense details
- Information regarding assets, including bank savings
- Information regarding liabilities
Documents Required for All Household Members:
- Release of Information
- Identification
- Proof of immigration status
- Birth certificates
- Proof of income, expenses, assets, and liabilities
Possibly Required Additional Documents:
- Medical forms or medical documents
- Marriage certificates, certificates of civil partnership, divorce decrees, or other relational documents
- Documents proving guardianship
- Bank statements
- Authorization of Representative documents
- Documents supporting emergency or exceptional circumstances
Refer to the Document Checklist for more details on the necessary documents.
Please note that if your application is idle for 30 minutes, your session will expire, and you will need to log in again to continue. You can save your application and continue later for up to 30 days. After 30 days of inactivity, your application will no longer be accessible, and you will need to restart.
Throughout the application, you will find technical guidance on each page to assist you in completing the form effectively. The sections below will provide further help for specific pages of the application.
Eligibility for financial assistance is based on the following four criteria:
Caymanian StatusHousehold members may be eligible for financial assistance if they are:
- Caymanian;
- A spouse or civil partner of a Caymanian living with the Caymanian at the time of the application and have been living with their spouse or civil partner for five years or more immediately preceding the application; or
- a guardian of a dependent who is Caymanian.
Residency
Household members must be resident in the Cayman Islands at the time of the application and for a total of at least eight of the last 12 months prior to the application.
Income and Savings Maximum Thresholds
To see the detail about the threshold household income and savings must not exceed, please see Eligibility Criteria.
Shortfall
The household expenses must be more than the household income.
Financial assistance will be approved where all of the eligibility criteria are met and based on the amount of the household deficit. Financial assistance will only be approved for those in the household who meet eligibility criteria 1 and 2 and the household is eligible per criteria 3 and 4.
For a comprehensive set of guidelines for completing your online application, please review our Guidelines here.
