NIS CONTRIBUTION

Sep 18, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

Please facilitate me to use your medium to make a few queries to NIS. Why is it that the spectacle allowance remains at $10,000 (per 2 years) and lens repair’s is $2000 per lens? Over the years the prices for basic spectacles have skyrocketed ($40,000 to $50,000) so let’s not get started on the cost for spectacles with transition, Crizal or other lens. Whilst I know a spectacle allowance is just that, an allowance, NIS really needs to review that aged old $10,000 to something a little more substantive to maybe a percentage of the cost of spectacles these days (30 or 35 percent)

Why is it that only a widow can benefit from survivor’s benefits in the event her spouse dies? This is the 21st century, where both men and women are fighting for equal rights, and in most cases they emerge successful. Women, apart from motherly and widely duties, have taken up the mantle of being a financial provider in homes. Some men have even reversed their roles with women, opting to stay at home and take care of the kids whilst the women work. If NIS checks their records, they can see women makes up a huge percentage of contributors.
As it is right now, a woman can access survivor’s benefit from NIS if her husband dies, even if she is healthy enough to work and is not disable but a man cannot have access to such if his wife dies unless he is proven disable. Why the double standard?
I’m a working woman who takes care of my husband who is unemployed because we both made a decision that his small salary couldn’t take care of us so we decided for me to have a better paying job and him to take care of the home and kids. I make my contributions every single month so that I can benefit in my old age. I want to be assured that with all my contributions that I made, my husband can benefit from them in the event I die before him. If a healthy widow can access survivor’s benefit why can’t a healthy widower?
I understand that there are some really outdated rules and regulations when it comes to benefits at NIS and staff has to follow such, however I beseech with those in authority especially the Minister of Social Services and the management of NIS to review and make some changes to these regulations.

NIS over the years has been complaining that workers are working under the books and not been making payments. There is a reason for that: the benefits are too little. Come on NIS. sweeten the pot a little.

Please Honorable Minister, please look into these 2 matters especially the survivors benefits as I don’t want my husband to suffer in the event I die before him. All my contributions over the year will be useless?

Yours truly
A contributor (Name and contact provided)

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