Long Term Benefits are generally payable for a longer duration of time than Short-term Benefits which are payable for a maximum period of 26 weeks. The quantum of benefit payable is a function of the number of Contributions (or Credits) which a person has recorded against his account, and his average income for the best 3 years of the last 10 years prior to his date of eligibility. Having determined the Claimant’s Average earnings, the Claimant is usually paid a percentage of that Average Earnings. The percentage payable depends on the number of Credits which the person has earned during his insurable years. Please see the Pension Percentage Computation Chart for the percentage equivalency.
The Long-term benefits being paid by DSS are as follows:
Age Pension
is payable to an Insured person who has attained the Retirement Age and had paid a minimum of 500 Credits.
Documents to be presented:
- A completed Age Benefit Application form
- The Claimant’s Birth Certificate
- The Claimant’s Social Security Card
- A Bank Payment Order indicating which bank you wish to have your pension lodged at
- Any other document required by the Director
All claimants are required to indicate whether they worked in any other Caricom country during their working lifetime. Where this is the case, all other Social Security/NIS cards should also be submitted, since it may be necessary to totalize all contributions paid in the different territories as provided by the Caricom Reciprocal Agreement on Social Security.
All persons in receipt of Age benefit are required to complete a Certificate of Life form every year as proof that he is alive, and in receipt of his pension. All Claims for Age benefit must be submitted to the DSS within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.
Age Grant
is a lump sum amount payable to the Insured Person who has attained the Retirement Age, but who has only paid 50 to 499 Credits. The Age Grant payable is equivalent to three times the Average Weekly Insurable Earnings for each 50 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:
“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 50 Credits paid.”
For example, if his average weekly Insurable earnings were, say, $350.00, and he had paid a total of 400 contributions, he will receive an Age Grant of $8,400.00. (i.e. 3 x 350.00 x 8 = 8,400.00). Note that there are 8 blocks of 50 contributions in a total of 400 contributions.
Invalidity Benefit
is payable to a person who is medically certified to be suffering from a physical or mental disability which is likely to remain permanent and which prevents him from working. Invalidity benefit is also payable where a Claimant has exhausted his entitlement to Sickness Benefit. Benefit is payable for as long as the condition lasts, or until the age of 60, whichever condition arises first.
In order to qualify for an Invalidity Pension the insured person must be below the age of 60, and must have paid a minimum of 150 Credits.
Documents to be presented:
- A completed Invalidity Benefit Application form
- A medical certificate certifying that the Claimant is suffering from a physical or mental condition which is likely to remain permanent. (Please note that the DSS reserves the rights to send the claimant to its Medical Referee for an evaluation)
- The Claimant’s Birth Certificate
- The Claimant’s Social Security Card
Conditions for Continued Entitlement:
- He must not engage in activities which are likely to retard or worsen his condition
- He must not undertake paid labor
- He must not leave his place of residence without leaving word where he can be found
- He must submit himself to a medical examination when asked to do so by the Director
- Invalidity pensions are payable as long as incapacity remains, or until the Claimant attains the age of 60, which ever condition arises first
- A person in receipt of an Invalidity pension is required to complete a Certificate of Life form every year as proof that he is alive, and in receipt of his benefit
All Claims for Invalidity benefit must be submitted to the DSS within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.
Invalidity Grant
is a lump sum amount payable to an Insured Person who is deemed to be permanently incapable of work, but who has only paid 50 to 149 Credits. The Invalidity Grant payable consists of three times the Average Weekly Insurable Earnings for each 50 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:
“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 50 Credits paid.”
For example, if his average weekly Insurable earnings were, say, $400.00, and he had paid a total of 140 contributions, he will receive an Invalidity Grant of $2,400.00. (i.e. 3 x $400.00 x 2 = 2,400.00). Note that there are 2 blocks of 50 contributions in a total of 140 contributions.
Survivors’ Benefit
is payable to the spouse and Dependent Children of a deceased Insured person. The surviving spouse is paid one half of the pension the deceased was receiving, or would have received had he submitted a claim. The remainder of the available benefit is distributed amongst the surviving children. However, where the rate obtained by such division is less than $50.00 per month, the Board shall decide to which of these children the pension should be awarded. Where there is no spouse and, or dependent children, a benefit may be payable to dependant parents, and, if there are none, to dependant grand-parents of the deceased; provided that the parents or grand parents as the case may be are over the age of 60, and were wholly or mainly dependent on the Insured Person.
In order to qualify for Survivors’ Pension the deceased insured person must have satisfied the following conditions prior to his/her death:
- He must have paid a minimum of 150 contributions
- He must have been in receipt of an Invalidity or Age pension
Conditions to be satisfied by the widow or widower, children, parents, or grandparents of the deceased:
- The widow or widower must have been wholly or mainly maintained by the deceased at the time of death
- If the widower or widow is 50 years or older, he or she will be paid a pension for life
- If the widower or widow is less than 50 years old, the pension is payable for one year. However, where the person has children of the deceased Insured Person in his/her care, the pension is payable until the last child attains the age of 18
- Eligible children must be below the age of 18; wholly or mainly maintained by the deceased at the date of death, unemployed, and unmarried, however; if, prior to attaining the age of 18 the child is working, and, or married, the pension shall cease upon employment or marriage
- If at the time of death there were no surviving spouse or dependent children, a dependent parent, or, if there is no such parent, a dependent grandparent shall be entitled to one half of the available pension, provided that such parent or grand parent had already attained the age of 60. If there is more than one parent or grand parent as the case may be, the available pension will be shared equally amongst them. Such pension is payable for life
- Survivors Benefit payable to a widower or widow shall cease on his/her remarriage or cohabitation with a woman or man as husband or wife as the case may be
- A person in receipt of Survivors benefit is responsible for informing the DSS office if there is any change of circumstances affecting his or her continued rights to such benefit
- A person in receipt of a Survivors benefit is required to complete a Certificate of Life form every year as proof that he is alive, and is in receipt of his benefit
Documents to be presented by persons claiming Death Benefit:
- A Survivors Benefit Application form must be duly completed for each Claimant (including children, or parents, or grand parents as the case may be)
- A Birth Certificate in respect of each claimant
- The Social Security card of the deceased
- The Marriage certificate. Where the couple was not married, but living together in a common-law union for at least three years, the surviving partner must present a notarized document certifying the union
- Any other evidence prescribed by the Director
All Claims for Survivors benefit must be submitted to the DSS within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.
Survivors’ Grant
is a lump sum amount payable to the dependants of a deceased Insured Person who paid 50 to 149 Credits. The Survivors Grant is equivalent to three times the Insured Person’s Average Weekly Insurable Earnings for each 50 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:
“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 50 Credits paid.”
For example, if his average weekly Insurable earnings were, say, $550.00, and he had paid a total of 140 contributions, the Dependants will receive a Survivors Grant of $3,300.00.
(i.e. 3 x 550.00 x 2 = 3,300.00). Note that there are 2 blocks of 50 contributions in a total of 400 contributions.
Where the deceased left no surviving spouse or dependent children, a dependent parent, or, if there is no such parent, a dependent grandparent shall be entitled to one half of the available Grant, provided that that parent or grand parent had already attained the age of 60. If there is more than one such parent or grand parent as the case may be, the available Grant will be shared equally amongst them.
Persons Missing at Sea
Where an Insured Person is reported missing, a claim for Survivors benefit can be made from the date of such disappearance. However, payment cannot be made until seven years have elapsed, and the person officially declared dead.
Such claims must be supported by an official report from the police confirming such disappearance, and, at the expiration of seven years, a letter confirming that the person has not been see or heard of since.
Funeral Grant
is a lump sum provided to assist with the burial expenses of an Insured Person, his or her spouse, and/or their dependent children. The Grant is payable to the person(s) who has met, or is liable to meet the burial expenses.
In order to qualify for a Funeral Grant the deceased insured person must have satisfied the following conditions prior to death:
- Must have been in receipt of a Short-Term or Long-Term benefit
- He or she had satisfied the conditions for qualifying for any Short-Term or Long-Term benefit
Amounts payable as Funeral Grants
- On the death of an Insured Person, a maximum amount of $3,200.00
- On the death of a dependant spouse, a maximum amount of $2,665.00
- On the death of a dependant child, a maximum amount of $1,335.00
Documents to be presented by persons claiming a Funeral Grant:
- The Death certificate
- The Social Security number of the deceased
- Receipts of the burial expenses
- Where the burial expenses were carried out on a credit basis, invoice(s) showing liability to pay should be obtained from the creditor
- If the person who met the expenses wishes to have the Grant paid to a different party, a letter of authorization should be obtained from such person
All Claims for Funeral Grant must be submitted to the DSS within 6 months from the date of death of the deceased.
Grounds for Disqualification of Benefits
An Insured person claiming or entitled to Sickness, Maternity, Employment Injury, Disablement or Invalidity benefit shall be disqualified for receiving benefit if he or she:
- Refuses the request of the Director to submit himself to a medical examination
- Behaves in any manner calculated to retard his recovery
- Is absent from his place of residence without leaving word where he may be found
- Undertakes work for which remuneration is, or would ordinarily be payable