Benefits

Long-term Benefits are generally payable for a longer duration of time than Short-term Benefits which are paid 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 7 years of the last 15 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 working life up to the date that the claim was made.

The Long-term benefits being paid by MSSF are as follows: 

• Age Benefit
• Age Grant
• Invalidity Benefit
• Invalidity Grant
• Survivors’ Benefit
• Survivors’ Grant
• Funeral Grant

In addition, a lump sum Funeral Grant is provided to assist with the burial expenses of an Insured Person, his or her spouse, and/or dependent children. The Grant is payable to the person(s) who has met, or is liable to meet the burial expenses.

CARICOM Reciprocal Agreement. Under this Reciprocal Agreement, insured persons are entitled to long-term pension benefits, for which they qualify, from one or more Social Security Organisations in the CARICOM Member States. When going to another CARICOM Member State to work persons should inform the Directors of the Social Security Organisations in their home country and host country.

On making a claim for a pension, persons are required to provide details of all employment and Social Security contributions in other CARICOM Member States. This allows the contributions from all CARICOM employment to be added together in order to provide better Pension Benefits. Please note, however, that you will only receive a portion of your benefit from Montserrat according to your period of employment here; the remainder of your benefit will be provided by the other Schemes that you have paid in to.