What is Social Security

The ILO (1983) defines social security as the protection furnished by a society to its members in the event of certain contingencies, including sickness, old age, survivors, death, maternity, unemployment, industrial accidents, occupational hazards and health care.

Most industrial countries cover the entire range of the contingencies.The less developed countries provide a limited range mainly, sickness, maternity, old age, survivors' benefits, and employment injury.Very few developing countries provide Unemployment insurance and complete Medical care.

In Dominica, the program is designed to partially replace or supplement income lost by Insured Persons during periods of sickness, maternity, employment injury, and old age. When an Insured Person dies, provision is also made to pay a pension to the eligible spouse and children. In the absence of an eligible spouse and children, surviving parents or grandparents over the age of 60 stand to qualify for such benefit.