Published 16 May 2020
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Social Security: Persons should not be physically or financially distanced from their regular wage
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, May 16, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — In the whole of society approach in Federation’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic, the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board responded by setting up a $15 million Covid-19 Relief Fund with the funds coming from its reserves to ensure that hardship experienced by persons is lessened.
“I think that we are all aware that Social Security at its core is for wage replacement, and so in these very perilous times the Board was cognisant of the fact that they could not allow persons to be physically distanced from their regular wage, nor financially distanced from their regular wage,” observed Deputy Director of Social Security, Mr Vernel Powell.
Mr Powell made the remarks on Saturday May 16 when he appeared, alongside Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Director of Social Security Mr Antonio Maynard, as a panellist on Inside the News programme on WINN FM 98.9 hosted by Mr Clive Bacchus.
“The Board set aside EC$15 million to be paid over a period of three months – the payment of $1,000 per month over the months of April, May and June,” said Mr Powell. “You should also be aware that these funds are not taken from any of the branches of Social Security.”
According to the Deputy Director of Social Security, there are three branches – the Long Term Branch, the Short Term Branch, and Employment Injury Branch that are strictly governed by laws, and therefore the amount could not be taken from any of those.
He however advised the general public that in Social Security’s Benefit Regulation, part 3 section 9, subsection 2 states: ‘For the purpose of this regulation, an insured person shall be treated as incapable of work on any day during which that person is required to abstain from work because of being under observation by reason of being a carrier or because of having been in contact with a case of infectious disease’.
“Since that is where we are, except on a much larger scale, and so therefore the Board set aside EC$15 million from its reserves to ensure persons that their hardship is quite lessened,” advised Mr Powell.
In response to a caller who questioned why Social Security was making out those payments, Prime Minister, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, advised that the Deputy Director had identified the legal basis for Social Security’s involvement in such a programme.
“You cannot be indifferent to what is happening in the society from which you draw your legitimacy, you draw your support, and you must do things that would assist the society,” said Dr Harris. “What better way than for Social Security to step in at a time like this to show corporate social responsibility?”
The Prime Minister said Government was very satisfied with the work of the Social Security in responding, noting that it was the proper thing to do and the fact that it was not only legally grounded, but it was also grounded in the philosophy of Social Security – that it was a scheme intended in the main to help persons disadvantaged.
“While the scheme outlines certain specific areas, sickness, maternity, death, injury, it is the evolution of these things that a modern Social Security scheme must respond to,” said Dr Harris.
In the meantime, Director of Social Security Mr Antonio Maynard advised that payments began on the 20th of April with continuous and daily uploads to the various bank accounts and dispatching of cheques. He noted that there is no cut off period within the three months of disbursements, which meant that persons, if necessary, can be paid retroactively within the three months period.
He noted that as of Friday May 15, 2020, total applications received and processed from both St. Kitts and Nevis were 6,195. The head office in St. Kitts had received and processed 3,291 applications from employers through the Department of Labour, and 923 from self-employed persons. Total applications received at the branch office in Nevis are 1,981.
“Total applications already uploaded to the various bank accounts for payments, are 4,579 persons,” added Mr Maynard. “Total amount paid out thus far is $4,503,437. It is also important to note that the second payment will be made and uploaded to the various bank accounts on Wednesday May 20. We are very pleased to be disbursing these funds even on a day to day basis.”
