Pension age to increase in 2017

The pensionable age in Dominica is set to increase to 63 years effective January 2017.

The current pensionable age is at 62 and half years old and Deputy Director of the Dominica Social Security, Augustus Etienne, told Talking Point on state-owned DBS Radio that the increase is “in keeping with efforts to sustain the Social Security scheme.”

“Come January 1st the age is going to go to 63 years. For a person who hasn’t met the qualifying contribution requirements, 63 in 2017 is the age that they need to become pensionable,” he said.

Etienne stated that no one will qualify for pension between the periods of January to June 2016.

“If they become 63 at that time, they would have become entitled in 2016 at 62 and a half years old,” he explained.

Etienne stressed that persons will become qualified at age 63 from July 2017.

Contribution rates applicable to all categories of contributors are to follow with a change where there is a quarter percent increase effective January 1st 2017.

The changes in details are as follows: Employees who were previously paying 5.25% will now be paying 5.50%. Self employed persons who contributed 11.25% will now contribute 11.50% and Voluntary contributors who were paying 9.9% will now pay 10.15%.

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28 Comments

  1. Pinky
    December 19, 2016

    Everything but salaries going up? D country nice boy!

    • Truth Be Told
      December 20, 2016

      Join the club. The same in progressive countries. Times are hard all over.

  2. anonymous
    December 18, 2016

    with such high unemployment what about giving the youth an opportunity to gain employment?

  3. Freelance
    December 17, 2016

    That is to off set Skerrit political scheme where made social security be responsible for paying 300 dollars to non contributors . Think it easy. Now I hearing they bought over assets of a certain business in town the government had just bailed out with Grant of 500k. So money flying left right and centre while the working class have struggle to get their pension. Meanwhile politicians after two terms well fix.

  4. Paul Jameson, Caribbean Tax Economist
    December 17, 2016

    This is ridiculous!

    Dominica cannot afford this. The pensionable age must be increased even more.

    The statistics are that more an more people are dying in their late 50’s. The government can profit on this in a number of ways:-

    1) Increase the rate of pensions and social security contributions to be made by everyone (basically, as those paying will never see pensionable age, this is a wonderful ‘stealth’ tax!).

    2) Increase the pensionable age to 70.

    Also, the government may wish to follow the lead of Mr. Obama’s Obamacare and remove the entitlement to state medical care for serious diseases (cancer, etc.) for anyone over the age of 50.

    Great savings to the made here!

  5. mine
    December 16, 2016

    You can get full pension with no penalty at 62 and can also get social security but will lose a percentage. You all complain for everything in Dominca.

  6. Run
    December 16, 2016

    Don’t the Govenrment have to pass laws to ensure that employers employ their workers up to those ages

  7. %
    December 16, 2016

    Not enough people supporting the fund.High level of unemployment on island…Do NEP workers pay Social Security??? Dominica is a failed state!!!

  8. Watching News
    December 16, 2016

    Continue voting the same way… Lets see who is suffering while Politicians becoming millionaires.

  9. OLI
    December 16, 2016

    Some of us paying social security today will not leave to see the age of 63. Sad but True! So it seems DSS just going to keep all our contributions for themselves because we’re not there to collect the little ‘pittance’ they give back.

  10. Danger Zone
    December 16, 2016

    Shifting the goal posts…

  11. Prospective leader!
    December 16, 2016

    Studies have shown that old age begins at 55, life expectancy as stipulated by the Lord and not statistics is age 70 better know in the bible as three (3) score and ten. Therefore rightfully pension should begin at age 55 cause there is no guarantee that one will live much longer after 55 especially coming from 20+ years of work so why in the world will it even rise with the increase of time? The monies the people worked for should be their desicion as to when they should receive it. I recommend a survey be done before the bill takes effect.

  12. Major56
    December 16, 2016

    Just now it will be 70….then 75….then it will be work until you pass out from exhaustion and then it will be “F off, we not paying you at all!…

    smh…what a system…sometimes I don’t even know what I’m working for or towards nuh.

  13. Saquay gas
    December 16, 2016

    Lord fi God. If the government kept its hands off the cuffers of DSS there might just be enough money to pay pensioners before they die and have them retire at a reasonable age to enjoy their twilight years.
    While you’re at it stop thriving ppl sweat by replacing their Social security with all you $70+ petance.

  14. December 16, 2016

    Increasing pension age will create more jobless people;nonetheless we see clearly that the majority of men never reach 65 yrs. in good health.It is profitable for the gov’t to receive more tax money from the employed ;but at the end of the day those that are above 60 yrs. old would like to enjoy an old age pension time while the youth take over.I guess in a few years the gov’t will continue to raise the pension age ;while the young people life expectancy will decrease due to lack a good standard of living.

  15. Jennifer
    December 16, 2016

    By the time they finish increasing the pension age we will die before being eligible for retirement and social security

    • Good times
      December 17, 2016

      That’s precisely the point Jennifer. They boast about the economy, but the facts spoeak for themselves. The only reason for increasing the pensionable age is because the amount of monies coming in (amount of people working) is insufficient to sustain and maintain the amount of persons that receive social security benefits. The country nice boy…

  16. Shaka Zulu
    December 16, 2016

    Most men in Dominica don’t make it to 65 so knock yourself out. All this increases points to a few things. 1) there is not enough people paying into social security 2) at its current rate it is unsustainable 3) many will not make it to retirement nor enjoy retirement.
    Alternative sources of investment and retirement plans must be obtained.

    • Concerned
      December 16, 2016

      Shaka Zulu you have nailed it. With our working population so small and so many retirees at present there will not be enough money in the fund for people who retire in the next 20 years. To avoid the mistake that was made years ago the fund has changed its tactics to increasing the age and charging a bit more from us now to save for our future.

    • 1979 is forever....
      December 16, 2016

      PERIOD!!!!

    • Jr
      December 17, 2016

      Smh. WHats the point in depriving your family valuable resources to pay into this sceem? They even want to take u to court if u do not pay. They enjoying their saleries now so we can get nothing later. USELESS!

    • The Truth Be Told
      December 17, 2016

      No one knows when that inevitable day will come. However, they should take better care of themselves.
      In Canada, it is stated that, today people are living longer. They can retire at 60 or later, if they so wish; some do.
      The new Law is, employers cannot force them to retire at 65 if their performance is satisfactory. This means they can work past 70 if they so wish.

  17. Vaffanculo_PM
    December 16, 2016

    If I know skerrit well some body in Govt approaching 63 so he pass a law for them, dem fellas only pass two types of laws in Dominica, (1) Law to punish citizens (2) Laws to protect the ruling class 8)

    • Looking
      December 16, 2016

      Those were on the cards long time ago. Pensionable age will increase, Contribution rates will increase. But in Dominica everything is perfect we should not complain.

      • Mwen mem
        December 16, 2016

        To perfect it well looking so!

    • ?????????????
      December 17, 2016

      What is wrong with you?. Hear you. They are increasing gradually to reach the age of 65. If you were listening to what you were supposed to , you would know that instead of being so political. So long ago that has been said and you are not taking note. People please get yourself better by listening and not speaking t o quick. Ask questions if you do not understand. The pension age is going to be increased to 65 years and this was said years ago. What DSS is doing is gradually increase it rather than doing it one time from 60 to 65.

    • The Truth Be Told
      December 17, 2016

      Once it is the PM some of you have nothing good to state but criticisms.

    • give praise to rastafari
      December 19, 2016

      you dont know skerrit well..so u should have several seats….this is happening all over the world even in the US…so this has nothing to do with PM….

      Y’all just a set of ignorant crabs.

      although i dont agree with it…..cus it makes no sense since we wont reach retirement age but thats the way the system set up…we work to die…….

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