A fax has been sent around the Island urging needy people to voice complaints about Government's Financial Assistance office.

An "Open Letter to Indigents" questions the length of time people have to wait for financial assistance. It also asks whether Financial Assistance staff seem to "genuinely" care. The paper protest is believed to have originated from a disgruntled client who, The Royal Gazette understands, attempted to obtain a contact list of the roughly 1,000 financial aid recipients from the offices on Monday.

The woman was turned away, as all information on clients is confidential, and told she could not organise her protest petition from Government offices. The indigent rallying cry letter was faxed to The Royal Gazette and a number of Financial Assistance clients, however, it was unsigned and only listed the financial aid office as a contact number.

"Are you seeking or receiving Financial Assistance," it asked. "You can make a difference in how things are done."

The fax goes on to ask: "Is the length of time you have to wait for assistance too long?"

"Do you require Hospital Insurance?

"Do Financial Assistance staff genuinely seem to care?

"Have you appealed or considered appealing to the Director or Minister?"

It also encourages those with complaints to call the office and express their concerns.

The office received a number of calls from those who received the fax yesterday although The Royal Gazette was told most callers only wanted to alert staff about the fax rather than raise complaints.

Government moved to counteract the effects of the letter, issuing a statement explaining the financial aid office's role and procedures. "Persons applying for financial aid from the Department of Financial Assistance should not expect Government to pay for their cable television, car payments and personal debts," the statement said.

"Government does provide Bermudians with financial aid for the basic standard living expenses such as rent, food, utilities, medical care, day care, health care, laundry, public transport or special needs transport - but only if the client is eligible.

"Eligibility requirements are assessed after the client has provided the Department with accurate details of their current financial situation - from individual savings accounts, earnings, household members' incomes, pension information, children's birth certificates, doctor's certificates, photo identification and any other basic information the Department requires to make an assessment."The statement said delays associated with receiving monies most often result from a failure to provide the needed documentation.

It continued: "Everyone receiving aid has to meet the criteria set out under the new Financial Assistance Act which was passed in July 2001.

"The Act provides for a Financial Assistance Review Board so that, if a client has been deemed ineligible for aid, or if they are dissatisfied with the amount of aid that they are able to receive, they can appeal to the board instead of to the Minister."

The Royal Gazette was told the disgruntled client turned protest organiser is unhappy with the amount of aid she is receiving but refuses to work. All able-bodied and unemployed applicants are required to register with the Department of Training Services and provide proof they are actively seeking employment, a Financial Assistance spokesman explained.

"Many times an individual is not eligible for financial assistance because of poor money management," he said. "We refer these cases to our social worker for budget counselling." He continued: "The department's aim is to stimulate within each person in need, the ability to gain, regain or maintain a sense of self respect and personal worth; to encourage the individual to use his or her skills and personal resources toward self independence and to provide supportive assistance to those incapable of achieving personal or economic independence."

There are currently approximately 800 people receiving financial aid and 200 on housing assistance. These numbers include elderly persons living in public and private rest homes. Government is in the process of hiring an Investigative officer to work with the review board to minimise abuse of the system. It is also streamlining the application process for aid "which will facilitate quicker processing, providing the information provided by the client is accurate."