Increase in the Rates of Benefits Order, 2000

L.N.tO of 2000

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

(CAP. 318)

Increase in the Rates of Benefits Order, 2000

IN exercise of the powers conferred by section 84 of the Social

Security Act, hereinafter referred to as "the Act", the Deputy Prime

Minister and Minister for Social Policy, with the concurrence of the

Minister of Finance, has made the following Order:-

(1) The title of this Order may be cited as the Increase in the

Rates of Benefits Order, 2000.

(2)

This Order shall be deemed to have come into force:-

(a) in the case of the Second, Third, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth,

Twelfth and Fourteenth Schedules with effect from the 1st January,

2000; and

(b) in the case of the Tenth Schedule with effect from the

3rd January, 2000.

Sections 27, 30, 66 and 68

PART I

Scale Rates of Social Assistance per week, inclusive ofany measures

under the provisions of section 90A of this Act

A household of ONE eligible member only

Lm c

27.80

Where the number of eligible members in the household exceeds the number

indicated in the above column the respective weekly rates indicated therein shall be

increased by Lm3.50 per week in respect of every other eligible member in that

household.

PART II

Highest Rate ofAge Pens;on per week, inclusive ofany increases

under the provisions of section 90A of this Act

Highest Rate of Age Pension

Category of Pensioner

per week

Lm

c

1. A married man whose wife:-

(i) also qualifies for a pension in her own

In paragraph 4(d) of Part II, paragraph 4 (d) of Part III and

Schedule to the Act.

paragraph 2 (d) of Part VIn of the Second Schedule to the Act, for the

words "78.3%" wherever these appear there shall be substituted the

words "79.5%".

Section 23

PART I

Scale rates ofmeans governing Free Medical Aid where the head ofhousehold is in

insurable employment or self-occupied

Scale Rate

Number of Persons in household

One person only

Lm40.38

Where the number of members in the household exceeds 1, the weekly rate

indicated above shall be increased by Lm3 .50 per week in respect ofevery other member

in that household.

PART II

Scale rates ofmeans governing Free Medical Aid where the head ofhousehold is

neither in insurable employment nor self-occupied

Number of Persons in household

Scale rate

One person only

Lm 11.75

Where the number of members in the household exceeds J, the weekly rate

indicated above shall be increased by Lm3.50 pei" week in respect ofevery other member

in that household.

For the Third, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth and

Fourteenth Schedules to the Act, there shan be substituted the following

Third, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth and Fourteenth Schedules

respectively: -

"THIRD SCHEDULE

Sections 18,28,29,30.

PART I

Rates of Sickness, Unemployment, Special Unemployment and Injury Benefits,

Injury Grant and Injury Pension

Daily Rate of Benefit

A Single person or a married

person maintaining a spouse who

Type of Benefit

is not employed on a full-time basis

Any other person

Lm c

Lm c

Sickness Benefit

Section 25

Amounts of Sickness Assistance, Milk Grant, Leprosy Assistance and

Tuberculosis Assistance

Weekly Rate

Type of Assistance

Lm c

1. Sickness Assistance:-

(i) in respect of the first member of the

household

6.10

(ii) in respect of any other member of the same

household

3.90

2. Milk Grant

4.30

3. Leprosy Assistance:-

(i) in respect of the head of household who

is a leper

10.45

(ii) in respect of any other member of the

household who is a leper and not gainfully occupied:-

(a)

if under 16 years of age

4.30

(b)

if 16 years of age or over

10.45

(iii) in respect of any other member of the

household who is not gainfully occupied

4.30

4. Tuberculosis Assistance:-

(i) basic amount of tuberculosis assistance

payable in respect of a household one member of

which is effected by tuberculosis

7.30

(ii) allowance payable in respect of each

additional member of the household affected

by or particularly vulnerable to tuberculosis

2.90

Section 7 and 10

Rates of Contributions

Part I

Class One Contributions

(Employed Persons)

Type or

Weekly Rate or

Weekly Rate or

Cate-

Employed Persons

Contribution

Contribution

gory

payable by Employed

payable by the

Employer

Person

Persons under 18 years of age

(other than those falling under

Category 'E' below of this

Part) whose basic weekly wage

Lm2.84

Lm2.84

A

or the weekly equivalent of

their basic monthly salary does

not exceed Lm48.38.

Persons over 18 years of age

(other than those falling under

Category 'F' of this Part)

whose basic weekly wage or

Lm4.84

Lm4.84

B

the weekly equivalent of their

basic monthly salary does not

exceed Lm48.38.

Persons (other than those

falling under Categories 'E'

10%, calculated to the

10%, calculated to the

and 'F' of this Part) whose

nearest cent, of their basic

nearest cent, of their basic

basic weekly wage or the

weekly wage or the weekly

weekly wage or the weekly

C

weekly equivalent of their

equivalent of their basic

equivalent of their basic

basic monthly salary exceeds

monthly salary.

monthly salary.

Lm48.38 but does not exceed

Lm124.27.

Persons (other than those

falling under Categories 'E'

and 'F' of this Part) whose

D

Lm12.43

Lm12.43

basic weekly wage or the

weekly equivalent of their

basic monthly salary exceeds

LmI24.27.

Persons under 18 years of age

who are following a full time

course of studies or instruction

10%, calculated to the nearest 10%, calculated to the nearest

under the Student-Worker

cent, of the basic weekly cent, of the basic weekly

Scheme, or other similar

E

remuneration or the weekly remuneration or the weekly

schemes (including the

equivalent of their basic equivalent of their basic

Extended Skills Training

monthly remuneration up to monthly remuneration up to

Schemes, but excluding the

a maximum rate of a maximum rate of

Worker-Student Schemes)

contribution Lm 1.88.

contribution Lm1.88.

involving distinct work and

study periods for which they

are receiving remuneration.

Persons over 18 years of age

who are following a full time

course of studies or instruction

10%, calculated to the nearest 10%, calculated to the

I under the Student-Worker

cent, of the basic weekly nearest cent, of the basic

Scheme, or other similar

remuneration or the weekly weekly remuneration or the

schemes (including the

equivalent of their basic weekly equivalent of their

F

Extended Skills Training

monthly remuneration up to basic monthly remuneration

Schemes, but excluding the

a maximum rate of up to a maximum rate of

Worker-Student Schemes)

contribution Lm3.41.

contribution Lm3.41.

involving distinct work and

study periods for which they

are receiving remuneration.

I

Partll

Class Two Contributions

(SelfE:nployed Persons)

Weekly Rate of

Type of Self Employed Persons

Cate·

Contributions payable by a

gory

Self·Employed Person

Persons whose annual net income (excluding

Maternity Benefit, Children's Allowance and any

Ex-gratia Benefit payable under section 88 ofthis

Act) during the calendar year immediately

preceeding the contribution year in which the

contribution is being paid:-

exceeds Lm430 but does not exceed Lm2433 (this

SP

category is applicable ONLY to single persons

who are not self-occupied) .........................

Lm7.02

Lm8.77

is less than Lm3041 ..............................

SA

The weekly equivalent of 15% of their

SB

exceeds Lm3040 but does not exceed Lm6462.

annual income calculated to the neares

cent.

LmI8.64

exceeds Lm6462

SC

Part III

Class Two Contributions

(Self Occupied Persons)

Type of Self-Occupied Persons

Weekly Rate of

Cate·

gory

Contributions payable by a

Self.Occupied Person

Persons whose annual net earnings (excluding

Maternity Benefit, Children's Allowance and

any Ex-gratia Benefit payable under section 88

of this Act) during the calendar year immediately

preceding the contribution year in which the

contribution is being paid:-

Does not exceed Lm3041 ............................

SA

Lm8.77

exceeds Lm3040 but does not exceed Lm6462.

The weekly equivalent of 15% of their

SB

annual earnings calculated to the nearest

cent.

exceeds Lm6462

SC

LmI8.64

66

3.65

Injury Benefit

Sections 26, 31,44,50,54,63,64,67

Rates of several kinds ofpension

A. Full Rates of Retirement Pension per week, inclusive of any increase under

the provisions of section 90A of this Act, where the yearly average of contributions

paid or credited is 50 or more.

Persons who are also in receipt or a Service

Persons who are also in receipt or a Service

Pension that is payable by or on behalf or the

Pension that is NOT payable by or on behalf or

the Government or the United Kingdom

Government or the United Kingdom

Married man who

Married man who

Any other person

is maintaining

Any other person

is maintaining

his wife

his wife

Lm

Lm

c

Lm

Lm

c

c

32.52

23.83

30.06

22.71

B. Full Rates of Increased Retirement Pension, Invalidity Pension, Increased

Invalidity Pension, National Minimum Pension and Increased National Minimum

Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the provisions of section 90A of

this Act, where the yearly average of contributions paid or credited is 50 or more.

Married man who is

Type of Pension

Any other person

maintaining his wife

Lm c

Lm c

Sections 30,70,72,73,76,77

Rates ofseveral kinds ofAllowances, Maternity Benefit and a Marriage Grant

PART I

A.

Rate per week of Allowance paid to residents ofa therapeutic community in terms

ofsubsection (9) ofsection 30.

Lm c

10.00

PART II

B.

Rate per week ofAllowance paid to residents ofa State owned Institution in terms

of subsection (10) ofsection 30.

Lm

c

4.42

PART III

C.

Lump sum paid by way ofa Marriage Grant in terms of section 70.

Lm

c

79.00

PART IV

D.

Rate per week ofMaternity Benefit paid in terms of

subsection (1) ofsection 72.

Lm

c

14.50

PART V

E.

Supplementary Allowance.

Maximum annual reckonable income

Maximum

that can be taken for entitlement purposes

Allowance

amount of

(so however that any reckonable income

payable

STATUS

annual

below Lm2,270 shall be deemed to be

allowance

equivalent to Lm2,270)

payable

Married man who

Equivalent to 1.5%

is maintaining his

of the

wife or single

Lm3,770

Lm120

difference

parent who is not

obtaining

entitled to an

between

allowance

Lm10,270 and

under

actual reckonable

section 76

income

Equivalent to 1%

Single

of the difference

Lm3,270

person

Lm60

obtaining between

Lm8,270 and

actual reckonable

income

No entitlement to an Allowance under this Part is acquired where the annual

reckonable income exceeds the maximums indicated above, as the case may be.

PART VI

F.

Children's Allowance.

Maximum annual reckonable i"lcome that can be taken for entitlement

purposes - Lml0,270 (So however that any reckonable income below Lm2,770

shall be accepted to be equivalent to Lm2,770)

Number of children in household under

Percentage rate payable, by way of an

Allowance, on difference obtaining

16 years of age

between reckonable annual income

and Lm 10,270

6%

9%

11.5%

13%

1.5% for each such child

5th and other subsequent child

Over 16 years but under 21 years and still

undergoing full-time education or

training in an educational institution

recognised by the government in terms

1.5% for each such child

ofthe Education Act (Cap. 327) and who

is not receiving any form of remuneration

or allowance or is registered unemployed

under the Part I register and has never

been gainfully occupied.

Over 16 years but under 21 years and is

registered as unemployed under Part I of

the employment register kept In

accordance with the provisions of the

Employment and Training Services Act

1.5% for each such child

(Cap. 343) and who has never been

gainfully occupied, and who is not in

receipt of any benefit, pension or

assistance payable under this Act.

An Allowance payable to a household under this part shall in no case be less than

Lm52 per annum. No entitlement to an allowance under this part is acquired where the

annual reckonable income exceeds the maximum annual reckonable income indicated

above. So however that, where in a household there are four or more children, entitlement

to an Allowance is still acquired by such household, notwithstanding that the income

of such household exceeds the maximum annual reckonable income indicated, as long

as such reckonable income does not exceed LmI3,270.

PART VII

G.

Disabled Child Allowance.

Maximum annual reckonable income that can be taken

for entitlement purposes . Lm 13,270

Rate of Disabled Child Allowance

per week

Lm c

Where annual reckonable income does

not exceed Lm9 ;270

5.00

When annual reckonable income exceeds Lm9;270 but does not exceed Lm 13;270,

the weekly rate of Lm5, by way of an allowance, is to be deducted by 6.5% of the

difference obtaining between the reckonable income and LmI3;270.

An Allowance payable to a household under this part shall in no case be less than

Lm52 per annum. No entitlement to an allowance under this part is acquired where the

annual reckonable income exceeds the maximum annual reckonable income indicated

above.

51

6.41

Unemployment Benefit

3.44

2.24

Special Unemployment

5.78

3.76

PART II

Amounts ofInjury Grant

Amount of Grant

Degree of Disablement

%

Lm c

69.64

139.28

208.92

278.55

348.19

417.83

487.47

557.11

626.75

696.38

766.02

835.66

905.30

974.94

1044.58

1114.20

1183.84

1253.48

1323.12

PART III

Highest Rate ofInjury Pension

•

Weekly Rate

Lm c

06

PART IV

Orphan's Allowance

Weekly Rate

Lm c

12.46

PART V

Orphan's Supplementary Allowance

Weekly Rate

Lm c

27. 32

70

right under section 27 or 66 of this Act

(ii) does not qualify for a pension in her own

right under sections 27 or 66 of this Act

21.88

2. A married woman whose husband does not

qualify for a pension in his own right under

sections 27 or 66 of this Act

21.88

3. Widowed or single persons

29.44

PART III

Highest Rate ofDisability Pension and Pensionfor the Visually Impaired per week,

inclusive of any increase under the provisions ofsection 90A ofthis Act

Category of Pensioner

Highest Rate of Disability

Pension ur Visually Impaired

Pension per week

Lm

c

1. A married man whose wife:-

(i) also qualifies for a pension in her own

right under sections 27 or 66 of this Act

36.46

(ii) does not qualify for a pension in her own

right under sections 27 or 66 of this Act

21.88

2. A married woman whose husband does not

qualify for a pension in his own right under

sections 27 or 66 of this Act

21.88

3. Widowed or single persons

27.32

PART IV

Highest Rate of Carer's Pension per week inclusive ofany increases under the

provisions ofsection 90A ofthis Act

Highest Rate of Carer's Pension

per week

Lm c

29.44

PART V

House Rent

The rates in Parts I, II, III and IV of this Schedule shall be increased by 50c per

week if the household is paying rent for its normal place of habitation

Provided that, where more than one household live within the same premises, the

rent allowance shall be paid only once and shall be paid to the head of household

responsible for the payment of such rent to third parties.

The groundrent payable by the household in respect of premises which are held in

emphyteusis for a period not exceeding twenty-five years shall be deemed to be the

house rent for the purposes of this paragraph if such premises are used exclusively by

the household and solely as residence.

PART VI

Rate per week ofAllowance in lieu ofan Age Pension, a Disability Pension and a

Pension for the Visually Impaired

Lm c

4.42

35

Increased Retirement Pension

36.86

24.81

19.16

Invalidity Pension

39.52

Increased Invalidity Pension

29.52

National Minimum Pension*

38.70

32.26

Increased National Minimum Pension

47.35

36.86

*N.B. The full rates of National Minimum Pension are calculated at four-fifths

(to the nearest whole cent) of the National Minimum Wage in the case of a married

man who is maintaining his wife and at two-thirds (to the nearest whole cent) of the

National Minimum Wage in the case of any other person, as provided for in section 50

of this Act.

C. Full Rate of Widow's Pension per week inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of section 90A of this Act, where the yearly average of contributions paid

or credited is 50 or more.

Lm

c

35.34

D. Reduced Rates of Retirement Pension, Increased Retirement Pension,

Invalidity Pension, Increased Invalidity Pension, National Minimum Pension and

Increased National Minimum Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of section 90A of this Act, where the yearly average of contributions paid

or credited is between 20 and 49.

Yearly average of

Rate of pension payable per week

contributions paid

(calculated to the nearest whole cent)

or credited

[{FAP - INC} x 0.89] + INC

40-49

[{FAP - INC} x 0.69] + INC

30 - 39

[{FAP - INC} x 0.49] + INC

20 - 29

For the purposes of the above table, "FAP" means the full rate ofthe applicable

weekly rate of pension in accordance with tables A or B, as the case may be, of this

Schedule, and "INC" means all increases granted in terms of section 90A of this Act

taking effect from 1st January, 1994 and subsequent years.

E.

Rates of National Minimum Pension Additional Allowance per week.

Yearly average of

Married man who is

Any other person

contributions paid or

maintaining his wife

credited

Lm c

Lm c

/

50 (full rate)

2.05

3.08

40 -49

1.83

3.58

1.42

30 - 39

4.50

20 - 29

2.42

5.40

F. Reduced Rates of Widow's Pension per week, inclusive of any increases

under the provisions of section 90A of this Act, where the yearly average contributions

paid or credited is between 20 and 49.

Yearly average of

Rate of pension payable per week

(calculated to the nearest whole cent)

contributions paid

or credited

40-49

[{FWP - (INC + 7.63)} x 0.89] + INC + 7.63

30 - 39

[{FWP - (INC + 7.63)} x 0.69] + INC + 7.63

20- 29

[{FWP - (INC + 7.63)} x 0.49] + INC + 7.63

For the purposes ofthe above table, "FWP" means the full rate ofWidow's Pension

in accordance with Table C of this Schedule, and "INC" means all increases granted in

terms of section 90A of this Act taking effect from 1st January, 1994, and subsequent

years; whilst the amount of Lm7.63 represents the weekly rate of Widow's

Supplementary Pension which up to the year 1990 was payable to widows who were

in receipt of a Widow's Pension irrespective of the yearly average of contributions

paid or credited, which weekly amount was, with effect from the year 1991, incorporated

with the rates payable by way of a Widow's Pension.

G. Rate of Parent's Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the

provision of section 90A of this Act.

Married man who is maintaining

Any other person

his wife

Lm

c

Lm

c

38.71

32.25

H.

Rate of Widow's and Survivor's Pensions Additional Allowance per week.

Where \Vidow or Survivor is entitled

Where Widow or Survivor is entitled

to an Allowance under

to an Allowance under

paragraph (a) of section 31

paragraph (b) of section 31

Lm c

Lm c

1.95

4.00

I.

Highest Rate per week of a Two-Thirds Pension

Lm

c

82.86