First laws: 1970 (provident fund).
Current law: 1986 (social insurance).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Exchange rate: U.S.$1.00 equals 2.70 East Caribbean (E.C.) dollars.
Employed persons aged 16-59 and the self-employed.
Insured person: 2.5% of earnings.
Employer: 3.5% of payroll.
Government: None.
Maximum earnings for contribution purposes: E.C.$2,600 per month.
Old-age benefit: Age 60, and 500 weeks of contributions (provisional or reduced age benefit starts at 150 and rate increases with 25 additional weekly contributions per year).
Old age grant: 50 weeks of contribution.
Disability pension: Under age 60; 150 weeks of contribution, and disabled.
Survivor pension: 150 weeks of contribution paid by deceased.
Survivor or funeral grants: Worker eligible for one of the above benefits.
Old-age benefit: 30% of average annual earnings, increased if over 500 weeks of contribution.
Minimum benefit: E.C.$40 per week.
Maximum benefit: 60% of average annual earnings.
Old age grant: 6 times average weekly wage for each 50 weeks of contributions.
Disability benefit: 30% of average earnings if 150-500 contributions; increased if over 500 contributions.
Minimum benefit: E.C.$ 40 per week.
Maximum benefit: 60% of average annual earnings.
Survivor pension: 75% of pension of insured, payable to surviving spouse aged 50 or over, or incapable of self-support by reason of disability, or caring for child eligible for survivors benefits.
Payable for one year to pregnant widow--under 50, with no dependent children--with benefits continuing if child is born and receiving benefits.
Surviving children 25% of insured's pension for each dependent child under age 16 (18 if student).
Full orphans: 50% of decedent's pension. If no other eligible survivors, dependent's parents may be eligible.
Funeral grant: E.C.$2,000, paid to person who paid the funeral expenses.
National Insurance Board, administration of program.
First and current law: 1986.
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Employed persons aged 16-59.
Same as pension contribution, above.
Cash sickness benefits: Currently employed with 26 weeks of contribution, including 8 weeks in last 13 weeks before onset of illness. Employed and 16-59 years old.
Cash maternity benefits: 30 weeks of contribution, including 20 weeks during the 30-week period immediately preceding claim.
Maternity grant: Either the woman or her husband meets requirement for cash sickness benefit.
Sickness benefit: 65% of average earnings for the 13 weeks before illness. Payable for up to 26 weeks.
Maternity benefit: 65% of average earnings during 30 weeks prior to start of benefit.
Payable for up to 13 weeks (including week of confinement plus 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after).
Maternity grant: E.C.$300.
National Insurance Board, administration of program.
First law: 1939 Current law: 1997 Type of program: Social insurance system.
Employed persons. Self-employed persons not covered.
Insured person: None
Employer: 0.05% of payroll
Government: 0.05% of payroll (as an employer)
Work-injury benefits: Insured must be employed, neither self-employed nor a voluntary contributor.
Persons over and under the usual insurable ages are eligible. Must be injured on the job.
Temporary disability benefit: 70% of average weekly insurable earnings for a period of 26 weeks in the first instance, 52 weeks thereafter.
Permanent disability benefit: Percentage of disability must exceed 30%, and insured must have exhausted the temporary disability benefit. 70% of average weekly insurable earnings for length of disability.
Disability grant: Percentage of disability less than 30%; must have exhausted temporary disability benefit. 365 times the average weekly insurable earnings in one lump-sum payment.
Constant attendance benefit: Must be an outpatient receiving disability pension (100% disability), need the constant attendance of another. 150% of disability pension as long as constant attendance is required.
Survivor's benefit: Death must have resulted from work injury and/or occupational disease. Widow(er), unmarried children, and any other person who was wholly dependent on the deceased may qualify. The insured has the option of naming the beneficiary.
Widow(er): 35% of average weekly insurable earnings. Each eligible child: 11.6% (23% if disabled). Other dependents: 11.6%. Benefit is paid to widow(er) until death or remarriage, to children up to 16 (18 if in full-time education), and to other dependents for one year.
Funeral grant: $2,000 paid to person who met funeral costs when insured died of work injury or occupational disease.
Medical benefits: Medical, surgical, and hospital treatment, medicines, appliances, and transportation.
National Insurance Board, administration of program.