‘There is no way’ SSB can pay unemployment benefits – Antonette Skelton
No can do!
Speaking on JTV’s ‘The Big Story’ with host Cathy O. Richards this morning, April 7, 2020, Ms Skelton made it emphatically clear that, “The Social Security Board is a creature of law and the legislation says exactly what the Social Security can pay, namely sickness, maternity, old age, employment injuries, survivors, funeral grant and that is what the legislation says that we can do.”
According to Ms Skelton; however, there is some room in the SSB’s budget for social donations, “But there is no provision in the law for unemployment benefits.
“I am not saying that is not something that we cannot look at in the future.”
Explaining the system, while responding to a question by Ms Richards, the SSB boss explained that every benefit under the SSB is costed.
“You have to contribute to get a benefit. When they actually came up with the 8 ½ percent they had done the study and seen what percentage would be there to cover these benefits. There is no provision at all in the legislation, in any of the studies for unemployment benefits. So there is no way we can pay.”
Past Gov’ts shunned unemployment insurance- Ian S. Smith
Chairman of the SSB, Mr Ian S. Smith, on Friday, April 3, 2020, explained that while SSB cannot pay individuals unemployment benefits it is assisting persons indirectly by donating to families via the Family Support Network (FSN).
“We did a donation this morning (Friday April 3, 2020) and that is going to assist needy families and unemployed individuals.”
Smith said SSB also made a donation to Social Development Department and is preparing to make a $500,000 donation to the BVI Health Services Authority to assist with needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic interventions being done by the Government of the Virgin Islands.
According to Smith, the issue of unemployment insurance has been raised with successive administrations, “And we have studies that were done in terms of what is needed to be put in place for us to do unemployment insurance.”
Mr Smith said that the powers that be at various times had chosen not to pursue it, “And it was looked at as an additional cost on the populace but now we are seeing the importance of having that safety net to the Territory.”
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83 Responses to “‘There is no way’ SSB can pay unemployment benefits – Antonette Skelton”
Our legislators should pass a law to mandate that in these exceptional circumstances the Board should make a one month payment to persons in need. One month. If she cant see a way to make this happen she is not the right person for the job and she must be sent home!!
Send her home, it's time for a change at SSB....
EASY: Change the legislation!!!!!!!!
Leave the BVI Social Security money where it is,so that the people who are of age and are qualified to receive a pension will get their pension..
Why is the government and the Governor, mackoing the SSB-Funds?
I support Mrs Skelton, 100%
Government needs to save its own money as a reserve to cover in time of disaster and unemployment due to disaster.
Tell the NDP to bring back the tax-payers money that was wasted for 8 years..
I LIKE THAT LEGAL PHRAZE by Mrs Skelton[ " THERE IS NO PROVISION IN LEGISLATION FOR THIS TO BE DONE"]
I now join with Mrs Skelton to ask Government and the Governor, ["Where is the statutory authority and the law made by parliament for such a decision to be taken"]
I hereby induct Mrs Skelton into the Hall-of-fame for her legal stance.
Come Mrs Skelton,join the legal team firm and ask the question: ["where is it written in the statutory authority of the BVI Social-Security-law to pay umemployment benefit after a disaster?"]
Soon,they will broke SSB and when its time for workers to get their age pension, or people fall sick on the job or get injured on the job, money finish?
Mrs Skelton,I am sending your name to Her Majesty, to honour you for your stance.
Social security money is for the sick who paid SSB, for got injured on the job and who cannot work and for pensioners to enjoy their hard-earn-pension-money.
I will pay for the SSB lawyer,so we can challenge the Government and the Governor in the High Court of Justice and at the privy council!
One love BVI. One love SSB
what is called for at this time is something completely different , payout from people contributions while they are laid off fora period say of 3 months after that it time to go home and employers to terminate employment as per the labour code.
Lets see if they are working for we. Provions were put quickly in place for this Corona viruses. Let's see if they do the same for social security to pay we back some of our monies
The doctor operates a medical facility and just making sure that he gets paid after performing medical services. dr have to look out for his best business interest; during these COVID 19 times contributions to NHI have fallen off, therefore SSB have a few million and some of us wants to get into that cookie jar
Does the social security administration pay
Unemployment... no where! Can workers afford another deduction being taken from their salary or can small businesses afford another cost. I can hear the crying already ...
To address unemployment benefits the powers that be need to look into how to go about that. Probably a portion of the present SS contributions can be allocated to that fund instead of another deduction from wages. Ensuring though that Pension benefits are not affected or reduced.
Can they though make donations to nonprofit organizations or groups just like that?
What they need to do is to increase the meager pension benefits and the meager annual increase that they payout to pensioners.
if we are going to start talks about an unemployment fund, I would suggest the following: an unemployment fund should be financed through a small additional tax, as opposed to funding it from current revenue streams..Social Security, Payroll Tax, etc. This new tax should be collected on a monthly basis by the Labour Department. I do not believe the employer should have to fund anything, but rather, entirely by the employee. In any event, all stakeholders should be consulted to arrive at the percentage that should be collected and the dynamics behind this endeavour. A set of criteria not currently covered by the Social Security act should be cause for disbursement. I can't think of all right now, but national disaster, and national or global pandemic are two criteria that come to mind. conditions under who receives payment, and when payments should be disbursed must be clearly defined in any Act supporting this endeavor. because it would not be feasible for unemployment funds to be disbursed indefinitely to qualified recipients (my suggestion would be for a period as long as the law states severance must be paid due to unemployment...currently 3 months), each recipient must make a very strong effort to seek alternative employment during that period of unemployment. in my opinion, 3 months is long enough a period to find a job that pays at least minimum wage. in the case of locals and belongers, Dept of Labor should keep a list (I think such a list was already started at the direction of Hon. Vincent Wheatley) so that when a job becomes available, no matter what type of job it is as long as it pays at least minimum wage, locals and belongers are given preference. in the case of persons depending on work permits, or immigration for status, if after 3 months consecutively a person becomes unemployed, they should be paid severance as per the law, and sent to their native country as the very purpose for them residing in the territory is for labour reasons (if they have no work, no need to be here. and if they have found alternative employment, then the law must be followed). of course my suggestions can be accepted or rejected, or can be modified a bit. but the discussions must start somewhere and this is my piece to start the conversation, or to continue the conversation if it has already begun.
Ssb gotta be up by a billion $ by now
Pay up/out system it's been to long folks been paying this rich island always begging and seeking funds of some sort
All these disasters will soon bring the corruption to light
I hear some talking about an actuary needs to be performed well it can be performed using the same contributions that we have right now just allocate the money differently. 8.5% can be allocated better to include provisions for unemployment benefits. Raising Taxes with a recession looming is playing with fire.
Placing this under Labor Department is an idea but I don't trust Government to manage it properly and to ensure that political bias does not prevent persons who really need the benefits from getting them.
I am sure if we were to carry-out a census we would fine that more than half of the population is either living in poverty or living paycheck to pay check. You can create a via fund with the type of economical composition. And if the people are already struggling how can you ask the to pay increased contributions to have unemployment benefits included in the Social Security scheme.
so surely SS should kick in to some degree
As stated before, it’s time for us to have a serious conversation on how to deal with the unemployed. It time for this topic to be move to the front line. We cannot continue to believe someone else to do for us especially in situation like this. In most countries, were unemployed benefits are paid, they actually pay a percentage of their monthly income to this fund. Also note you cannot quit your job and think you could collect benefits. It don’t work like that.
While i agree that most of us need some assistance this may not be the best option. Remember the is no such thing as free money, it has to come from somewhere. As I stated before it usually education, health and social services that gets cut.
It doesn’t work so. Most people at home now aren’t sick. The note from the doctor is just to certify that you have a medical condition that may put you at risk for the virus. This was done so you can get pandemic leave and not be taken from either your sick days or vacation time. Most likely that person may be paid and cannot claim sick benefits. If they do, that person may find themselves paying back SSB or the employer any excess funds. By the way a stay home order does not qualify as sickness.
And will not be misled.
I believe that news was one of the best topic in recent times, because the upkeep or downfall of the BVI-SSB will determine, either a good future for the insured persons or a bad future.
Mrs Skelton must be commended for letting us know that there is no law in place for unemployment benefit under the SSB Act.
Therefore,Dr.Vanterpool,with his level of intelligence and education should not give emplyees the impression that SSB can lawfully give unemployment benefits.
The legal notation at law school, and in present day administration of legal interpretation, is:-
["If it is not written, it is not law"] Hence, anything done without a legislative frame-work,will be UNLAWFUL.
One love BVI.