Subject to the 3rd Schedule of the Classifications Regulations, all working persons (employees or Self-employed) 16 years or older, are required by law to get registered and to contribute toward their future benefits. They are required to pay contributions until they attain the Pensionable Age.

The applicant must present himself in person in order to have his photo removed. In addition, he must present the following documents:

• A completed Employee Registration Form
• An original copy of Birth Certificate
• An original copy of Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• A valid Pictorial ID

Every employer must complete and submit an Employer Application for Registration Form. If the business is a Partnership, the form must be signed by all Partners. If the business is being operated as a Company, or under a Business Name, the employer is also required to present all the other relevant Documents for Registration.

Every employee in Dominica (including non-nationals) must be registered with the DSS, and must pay contributions. Non-nationals must obtain and produce a Work Permit issued by the Government of Dominica Division of Labor & Immigration. The only non-nationals who are exempt from coverage are members of the Foreign Diplomatic Corp, and persons covered under Reciprocal Agreements with other countries.

It is every person’s responsibility to ensure that contributions are being remitted on his behalf. To find out whether your contributions are being paid, please Contact the DSS office. Every employee should ensure that he provides his Social Security card/number to his employer on the first day of employment, or shortly thereafter.

No. The Social Security Act requires that Contributions be paid on behalf of all working persons between the ages of 16 and the Pensionable Age.

No, an Insured Person is only required to pay contributions between the ages of 16 and the Pensionable Age of 65.

The Social Security Act provides for the registration of Voluntary Contributors. As the term suggests, a Voluntary contributor is an Insured person who does not satisfy the conditions under which he may contribute as either an employee or self-employed person, and who opts to contribute on his own behalf on a voluntary basis. Persons who intend to take up temporary residence overseas fall within this category. It is, therefore, important that arrangements be made with the DSS to continue paying contributions as a Voluntary Contributor before departure.

Social Security benefits are paid under three different branches:

The benefits paid under the Short-term Branch are: Sickness and Maternity which are generally paid for a short duration of time (not exceeding 26 weeks/6 months), and are meant to partially replace employment income lost as a result of temporary absence from work. Qualifying claimants are paid a maximum 60% of their average insurable earnings during the period of incapacity.

The Employment Injury Branch comprises Employment Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Death Benefit, and Medical Expenses Benefit. These are payable as a direct consequence of an occupational hazard.

The Long-term Branch comprises: Age benefit, Invalidity benefit, and Survivors benefit. These are generally payable for a period exceeding 26 weeks/6 months. In addition, a Funeral Grant is paid upon the death of a member, his/her dependent spouse and dependent children subject to applicable Social Security regulations. Employees qualify for the full range of benefits while Self-employed persons qualify for Short-term and Long-term benefits and Voluntary Contributors qualify only for the Long-term benefits.

It is an offence to refuse or fail to pay these contributions. Every employer is an agent of Social Security for the collection and payment of contributions. Therefore, if he fails to make the deductions, he then becomes personally liable for paying the entire amount due. 

A properly completed Short-term benefit Claim Form is usually processed and approved within two weeks. However, it must be borne in mind that all Short-term benefit claims must be submitted to your employer for completion of the Employer’s Certificate (on the reverse side of the Medical Certificate) before they are submitted to the DSS office. Unfortunately, some employers can be somewhat tardy in their completion and submission of the form. It would, therefore, be helpful if you follow-up with your employer to ensure that the claim is submitted to the DSS office in a timely manner.

Long-term claims are generally processed and paid within one month of the date of entitlement or submission of the claim, whichever is later. However, where there are difficulties with the information required for processing the claim – such as missing contributions – the processing time is dependent upon the time taken to resolve the particular problem.

It is a natural human tendency for an employee to prefer pocketing every cent that he earns instead of paying contributions. However; we need to appreciate the role and purpose of Social Security and, thus, the reasons for paying contributions.

Indeed, because of the existence of Social Security, thousands of retired persons are able to maintain their independence and human dignity during their twilight years; thousands of widows and orphans are able to go on after the loss of the bread winner; and employees who fall ill or women who become pregnant can continue to meet their commitments because Social Security replaces up to 60% of their earnings during their periods of incapacity.

The amount of benefit that contributors receive relative to the contributions they would have paid is quite remarkable. Indeed, the combined contribution paid between an employee and his employer is 14.25% (in 2024) of his/her Insurable Earnings. However, at the very least, the smallest Long-Term pension he will receive is 30% of his Insurable Earnings, while the Short-Term benefit he will receive is at the rate of 60% of his Insurable Earnings.

Any investor will tell you that if a person invests 14.25% of his income, and receives 30% to 60% in return, that this is a remarkable Return on Investment. Hence, the Contributions employees pay to the DSS should be viewed as an investment which repays a much, much higher return than that paid by the banks and most other organizations.

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 is officially declared dead. Such claim 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 seen or heard of since.