Long Term

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 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 insurable years.

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

Age Benefit

Age Benefit 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 form;
  • The Claimant’s Birth Certificate along with a notarized photograph;
  • Copy of page of with personal details in passport;
  • The Claimant’s Social Security Card;
  • A Benefit Remittance Form indicating which bank you wish to have your pension lodged;
  • 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 an Age Benefit Life Certificate form  which is due in March and September of each year  as proof that he is alive, and in receipt of his pension.

All Claims for Age benefit must be submitted to the MSS within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.

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Age Grant

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 25 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:

“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 25 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 $16,800.00

(i.e. 3 x 350.00 x 16 = 16,800.00). Note that there are 16 blocks of 50 contributions in a total of 400 contributions.

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Invalidity Benefit

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 retirement, 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 Form;
  • A medical certificate certifying that the Claimant is suffering from a physical or mental condition which is likely to remain permanent;
  • The Claimant’s Birth Certificate along with a notarized photograph;
  • Passport with Claimant’s details;
  • The Claimant’s Social Security Card;
  • A Benefit Remittance Form indicating which bank you wish to have your pension lodged.

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 retirement age.
  • A person in receipt of an Invalidity pension is required to complete an Age Benefit Life Certificate form  which is due in March and September of each year as proof that he is alive, and in receipt of his benefit.

All Claims for Invalidity benefit must be submitted to the MSSF within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.

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Invalidity Grant

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 25 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:

“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 25 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 $6,000.00

(i.e. 3 x $400.00 x 5 = 6,000.00). Note that there are 5 blocks of 25 contributions in a total of 140 contributions.

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Survivors’ Benefit

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 $69.92 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 Benefit

Conditions to be satisfied by the widow or widower, children, parents, or grandparents of the deceased:

  • The widow or widower must have been married for not less than 3 years.
  • 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 16 or 18 if in still full time education.
  • Eligible children must be below the age of 18 and in full time education; 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;
  • 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 MSS 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  Survivor’s Life Certificate 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 Survivor’s Benefit 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 Death certificate of the deceased;
  • 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; and
  • Any other evidence prescribed by the Director.

All Claims for Survivors benefit must be submitted to the MSSF within 3 months from the date on which the Claimant became entitled to it.

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Survivors’ Grant

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(AWIE)  for each 25 contributions paid by, or credited to him, and is represented by the following formula:

“3 x AWIE x the Number of blocks of 25 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 $8,250.00

(i.e. 3 x 550.00 x 5 = 8,250.00). Note that there are 2 blocks of 25 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.

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Funeral Grant

A 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 insured for not less than 26 weeks
  • Must have paid not less than 26 contributions

Amounts payable as Funeral Grants

  • $3,000 – on death of an Insured Person
  • $1,500 – on death of Age / Invalidity Pensioner
  • $1,500 – death of child over 9 years
  • $1,125 – death of child under 9 years
  • $1,500 – death of spouse of Age / Invalidity Pensioner
  • $1,500 – death of ppouse of Insured Person

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 MSSF within 6 months from the date of death of the deceased.

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Widow’s Benefit

A widow who at the date of her husband’s death had been married to him for not less than thee years and was:

  • Over 50 years of age, shall be awarded a survivor’s pension for life or a survivor’s grant.
  • Incapable of self-support by reason of invalidity, shall be awarded a survivor’s pension for so long as invalidity continues, or a survivor’s grant. If invalidity ceases and the widow is over 50 years of age, any survivor’s pension then in payment shall, be payable for life.
  • Under 50 years of age and had a child or children eligible for survivor’s benefit where the child is unmarried, adopted, step-child or child born out of wedlock shall be awarded survivor’s pension.
  • Pregnant and under the age of 50 years, shall be awarded a survivor’s pension or grant.

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Widower’s Benefit

A widower shall be entitled to survivor’s benefit if at the date of his wife’s death he had been married to her for not less than three years; and:

  • Is over 50 years of age, in which case he shall be awarded survivor’s pension for life, or a survivor’s grant.
  • Is incapable of self-support by reason of invalidity, in which case he shall be awarded a survivor’s pension for so long as the invalidity continues, or a survivor’s grant and if when the invalidity ceases the widower is over 50 years of age, any survivor’s pension then in payment shall be payable for life.
  • Is under 50 years of age and has a child or children eligible for survivor’s benefit where the child is unmarried, adopted, step-child or child born out of wedlock shall be awarded survivor’s pension.

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