First and current law: 1972 (social insurance), 1993 (social assistance).
Type of program: Social insurance system, plus assistance program.
Exchange rate: U.S.$1.00 equals 2.70 East Caribbean (E.C.) dollars.
Employed and self-employed persons aged 16-59. Exclusions: Family and casual employment with wages under E.C. $7.50 a week.
Insured person: 3% of earnings, private sector; 2% of earnings, public sector; 8% of earnings, self-employed.
Employer: 5% of payroll.
Government: None, except as an employer.
Maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes: E.C. $54,000 a year.
Old-age pension: Age 60 and at least 500 weeks of contributions (full pension); 350-499 weeks of contributions (reduced pension) or 156 weeks of contributions starting before 1975 (transitional pension).
Old-age grant: Age 60 and ineligible for pension, but has paid at least 26 contributions starting before 1975, or at least 52 contributions starting anytime after 1974.
Old-age assistance: Age 65 or older; age 60, if blind or disabled.
Disability pension: Minimum of 156 weeks of contributions.
Survivor pension: Insured person was receiving disability, or age pension, or would have been entitled to disability or age pension at the time of death.
Old-age pension: Full pension, 25% of covered earnings, plus 1% for each 50 contributions above 500 contributions, up to a maximum of 50%.
Transitional pension: 25% of earnings. Minimum E.C. $136.50 per month, maximum E.C. $227.50 per month.
Reduced pension: proportionate part of full pension.
Old-age grant: E.C. $1,000 or 75% of combined employer and employee contributions, whichever is greater.
Old-age assistance: E.C.$136.50 per month.
Disability pension: Same as old-age pension.
Disability grant: Same as old-age grant.
Survivor pension: 50% of actual or prospective pension of deceased, payable to widow aged 50 or over (1 year limit if under age 50 at worker's death).
Orphans: 20% of pension (40% if full orphan) payable to children under age 16 (18 if student).
Funeral grant: E.C. $2,000.
Ministry of Finance, general supervision.
Social Security Board, administration of program.
First and current law: 1973.
Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.
See pension coverage above.
Insured person: See pension coverage above.
Employer: See pension coverage above.
Government: None.
Maximum earnings for contribution purposes: E.C. $54,000 a year.
Cash sickness benefits: Insured for at least 26 weeks; worked at least 8 weeks in the calendar month immediately before the illness began and was in employment the day before the illness began.
Cash maternity benefits: 26 weeks of contributions in year preceding confinement.
Maternity grant: Same as maternity benefit, above.
Sickness benefit: 60% of average earnings. Payable after 3-day waiting period.
Maternity benefit: 60% of average earnings, starting as early as 6 weeks before confinement or as late as the week of confinement, for a maximum of 13 weeks.
Maternity grant: E.C. $400; payable to insured woman or wife of insured man.
Medical benefits: None provided under insurance. Medical services are provided by the Ministry of Health directly through public health facilities. Up to E.C.$2,000 available for necessary medical treatment abroad.
Ministry of Finance, general supervision.
Social Security Board, administration of program.