British Virgin Islands

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1979 (social security).

Current law: 1980 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Voluntary coverage is available.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 3.25% of covered monthly earnings. The voluntarily insured contribute 7% of monthly earnings.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are $37,944.

Self-employed person: 8.5% of declared monthly earnings.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are $37,944.

Employer: 3.25% of covered monthly payroll.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are $37,944.

Government: None; contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: Age 65 with at least 500 weeks of contributions.

Old-age grant: Age 65 with at least 50 weeks of contributions and did not qualify for an old-age or disability pension.

Old-age benefits are payable abroad.

Disability pension: Younger than age 65 with at least 250 weeks of contributions and assessed with a permanent incapacity for any work.

A medical doctor assesses the degree of disability every six months.

Disability grant: Younger than age 65 with at least 50 weeks of contributions, assessed with a permanent incapacity for any work, and did not qualify for an old-age or disability pension.

Disability benefits are payable abroad.

Survivor pension: The deceased had at least 250 weeks of contributions or was a pensioner at the time of death.

Eligible survivors include a widow(er) aged 40 or older or caring for a dependent child younger than age 15 (age 21 if a student) and orphans younger than age 15 (age 21 if a student).

Survivor benefits are payable abroad.

Survivor grant: Paid if the deceased did not qualify for an old-age or disability pension but had at least 50 weeks of contributions.

Funeral grant: Paid for the death of insured persons or their dependents. The insured must have at least 26 weeks of paid contributions.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: 30% of average annual covered earnings plus 1% of average covered earnings for every 50-week period of contributions exceeding 500 weeks is paid.

Average annual covered earnings are the sum of earnings in the best 11 years in the last 15 years of contributions (or the total years of contributions, if less) before retirement divided by 11.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate benefits are $37,944.

The minimum old-age pension is $260.

The maximum old-age pension is 60% of the insured's average annual covered earnings.

Retirement is not necessary.

The insured may receive the old-age pension and the survivor pension at the same time. The total amount received is 100% of the old-age pension plus 50% of the survivor pension, up to 100% of the insured's insurable earnings.

Old-age grant: A lump sum of six times average weekly earnings for every 50-week period of contributions from 51 to 499 weeks is paid.

Retirement is not necessary.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: 30% of average annual covered earnings plus 1% of average covered earnings for every 50-week period of contributions exceeding 500 weeks is paid.

Average annual covered earnings are the sum of earnings in the best 11 years in the last 15 years of contributions (or the total years of contributions, if less) before retirement divided by 11.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate benefits are $37,944.

The minimum disability pension is $260.

The maximum disability pension is 60% of the insured's average annual covered earnings.

The disability pension is replaced by the old-age pension at age 65.

The insured may receive the disability pension and the survivor pension at the same time. The total amount received is 100% of the disability pension plus 50% of the survivor pension, up to 100% of the insured's insurable earnings.

Disability grant: A lump sum of six times average weekly earnings for every 50-week period of contributions from 51 to 499 weeks is paid.

Survivor Benefits

Spouse's pension: 66.7% of the old-age pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to a widow(er) or cohabiting partner who lived with the deceased for at least three years.

Orphan's pension: 33.3% of the spouse's pension is paid; 66.7% for full orphans.

Spouse's grant: 66.7% of the old-age grant the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to a widow(er) or cohabiting partner who lived with the deceased for at least three years.

Orphan's grant: 33.3% of the spouse's grant is paid; 66.7% for full orphans.

Funeral grant: The grant depends on the age of the person at death. For a child younger than age 1, $450 is paid; for a child aged 1 to 15, $1,950; for persons aged 16 or older, $3,000. The grant is paid to the person who pays for the funeral.

Administrative Organization

Social Security Board (http://www.bvissb.vg), managed by a tripartite board of directors appointed by the Minister of Health and Social Development, administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1979 (social security).

Current law: 1980 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 0.75% of covered monthly earnings.

The maximum weekly and monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are $729.70 and $3,162, respectively.

Self-employed person: 1.5% of declared monthly earnings.

The maximum weekly and monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are $729.70 and $3,162, respectively.

Employer: 0.75% of covered monthly payroll.

The maximum weekly and monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are $729.70 and $3,162, respectively.

Government: None; contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: Must have at least 26 weeks of contributions, including eight weeks of contributions in the 13 weeks before the incapacity began.

Cash maternity benefits: Must have at least 26 weeks of contributions, including 20 weeks of contributions in the 39 weeks before the expected date of childbirth.

Maternity grant: Must have at least 26 weeks of contributions.

Eligible parents include the mother, her husband, or her cohabiting partner who has lived with her for at least two years.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 66.7% of average weekly covered earnings in the 13 weeks before the incapacity began is paid after a three-day waiting period for up to 26 weeks.

There is no minimum weekly sickness benefit.

The maximum weekly sickness benefit is $464.12.

Maternity benefit: 66.7% of average weekly covered earnings in the 39 weeks before the expected date of childbirth is paid for up to 13 weeks, beginning no earlier than six weeks before the expected date of childbirth.

There is no minimum weekly maternity benefit.

The maximum weekly maternity benefit is $486.

Maternity grant: A lump sum of $300 per child is paid to each eligible parent.

Workers' Medical Benefits

No statutory benefits are provided.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

No statutory benefits are provided.

Administrative Organization

Social Security Board (http://www.bvissb.vg), managed by a tripartite board of directors appointed by the Minister of Health and Social Development, administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1994 (employment injury).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: 0.5% of declared monthly earnings.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are $37,944.

Employer: 0.5% of covered monthly payroll.

The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are $37,944.

Government: None; contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

75% of average weekly covered earnings is paid for up to 26 weeks.

The maximum weekly temporary disability benefit is $547.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefit: For a total (100%) disability, 75% of average weekly covered earnings is paid for up to 26 weeks.

The maximum weekly permanent disability benefit is $547.

Partial disability: For an assessed degree of disability of 30% to 99%, a percentage of the full pension is paid according to the assessed degree of disability.

A medical doctor assesses the degree of disability every six months.

A lump sum is paid for an assessed degree of disability of less than 30%.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Benefits include medical, surgical, dental, and hospital treatment; skilled nursing services; medicine; prostheses (including maintenance and repair); and the cost of transportation to and from medical services.

Survivor Benefits

Spouse's pension: 50% of the maximum survivor pension is paid to a widow(er) or a cohabiting partner who lived with the deceased for at least three years.

The maximum survivor pension is 75% of the deceased's average weekly earnings.

The survivor pension ceases on remarriage or cohabitation.

Orphan's pension: 16.7% of the maximum survivor pension is paid to each orphan younger than age 15 (age 21 if a student, no limit if disabled).

Other eligible survivors: Up to 50% of the maximum survivor pension is split equally among other dependent survivors.

Funeral grant: A lump sum of $3,000 is paid to the person who paid for the funeral.

Administrative Organization

Social Security Board (http://www.bvissb.vg), managed by a tripartite board of directors appointed by the Minister of Health and Social Development, administers the program.