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ANTIGUA & BARBUDASOCIAL SECURITY BOARDSTATISTICAL ABSTRACT2015 - 2017ANTIGUA & BARBUDASOCIAL SECURITY BOARD ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD STATISTICAL ABSTRACT 2015 - 2017 All Rights Reserved © Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board 2018.

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ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT4REGISTRATIONSECTION 01SECTION 02SECTION 03INSURED POPULATIONCONTRIBUTIONSForewordList of AcronymsDefinition of TermsKey Social Security Indicators, 2016 & 2017678101213131414141417181919202223232324242526Figure 1 Registration Activity, 2015 - 2017Figure 2 Insured Persons Registration by Gender, 2015 - 2017Table 1.1 Registration of Insured Persons by Age Group and Gender, 2015 - 2017Table 1.2 Registration of Insured Persons by Region of Birth and Gender, 2015 - 2017Table 1.3 Registration of Insured Persons by Nationality and Gender, 2015 - 2017Table 1.4 Registrations by Type of Employers, 2015 - 2017Table 1.5 Distribution of Insured Person Registrants and Exits, 2015 - 2017Figure 3 Types of Population, 2015 - 2017Figure 4 Participation Rates, 2012 – 2017Table 2.1 Active Insured Persons and the Labour Force Participation Rates, 2015 - 2017Figure 5 Distribution of Active Insured Persons by Industry, 2017Table 2.2 Active Insured Persons by Industry, 2015 - 2017Figure 6 Contribution Income vs. Benefits Expenditure, 2013 – 2017Table 3.1 Analysis of Contribution Income and Benefit Expenditure, 2012 – 2017Table 3.2 Total Contribution Income (EC$) Collected by Sector, 2015 - 2017Table 3.3 Distribution of Total Contributions (%) Collected by Sector, 2015 - 2017Table 3.4 Contributing Employers’ Participation Rate, 2015 - 2017Figure 7 Distribution of Employers by Industry, 2017Figure 8 Contributing Employers as a % of Active Employers, 2015 -
 2017Table 3.5 Contributing Employers by Industry, 2015 - 2017TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 04 BENEFITS Table 4.1 Benefits ExpenditureR (EC$) by Branch/Benefit, 2015 - 2017 Table 4.2 Total ClaimsR Processed by Year, 2015 - 2017 Table 4.3 Age Pensioners by Age Group and Gender as at December, 2015 - 2017 Table 4.4 Mean Monthly Payment of Age Pension by Gender as at December, 2012 – 2017 Table 4.5 Invalidity Pensioners by Age Group and Gender as at December, 2015 - 2017 Table 4.6 Mean Monthly Payment of Invalidity
 Pension by Gender as at December, 2012 – 2017 Table 4.7 Types of Survivors’ Pension Awardees, 2015 - 2017 Table 4.8 Number of Children Survived by Deceased Insured Persons, 2015 - 2017 SECTION 05 EARNINGS Reported Gross Wage by Major Sectors, 2012 - 2017 Figure 9 Table 5.1 Distribution of Reported Gross Wage (EC$M) by Sector, 2012 – 2017 Table 5.2 Distribution of Estimated Annual Earnings (EC$M) by Industry, 2015 - 2017 Table 5.3a Average Monthly Income Bands by Gender, 2015 - 2017 Figure 10 Average Monthly Income by Gender, 2015 - 2017 Table 5.3b Average Monthly Income Bands by Gender – Public Sector, 2015 - 2017 Table 5.3c Average Monthly Income Bands by Gender, – Private Sector 2015 - 2017 SECTION 06 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Table 6.1 Active Contributors to Age Pensioners, 2015 - 2017 Figure 11 Cost/Funding Rates as a % of Total Insurable Wage, 2013– 2017 Figure 12 Funding Ratio, 2012 – 2017 Figure 13 Admin.
Expenditure as a % of Contribution Income, 2012 - 2017 Figure 14 Admin.
Expense as a % of Total Expenditure, 2012 - 2017 Figure 15 Pension Expenditure as a % of GDP, 2012 - 2017 Figure 16 Figure 17 Expenditure by Major Categories, 2012 - 2017 Figure 18 Income, Expenditure, Surplus/Deficit, 2012 - 2017 Income by Major Categories, 2012 - 2017 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 31 33 33 34 34 35 36 36 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT6This Statistical Abstract provides comprehensive and pertinent information for all stakeholders of the Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB).
The document aims to achieve four things, namely: (1) to provide operational transparency; (2) to highlight the effects of social, economic and demographic changes on the sustainability of the organization; (3) to increase public awareness and education of the ABSSB; and, (4) to assist in decision making at both the national and corporate levels.Similar to its predecessors, this document highlights the overall performance indicators to include the registration of employers, potential employees and the self-employed; the dynamic relationship between both beneficiaries and contributors; and, the attendant implications for the organization and policy makers.
As a tool that extends beyond simply serving the management of the ABSSB, this Abstract is somewhat akin to a labour market analytical dashboard, providing information on demographic diversity of the working population that is expected to prove useful to both employers and the Government.Moreover, this Abstract reflects the most recent amendments to the ABSSB regulations that began in 2013.
Of particular significance is the movement of the pensionable age, the re-classification of the self employed sector, and the increase in the contribution rate from 10% to 12½ %.A publication of this type and the quality of its information demonstrates the commitment, perseverance and professionalism of the ABSSB; and, a special appreciation for the science of statistics and research methodologies as well as its importance beyond theoretical discourse and the usefulness as a key tool for decision-making.The ABSSB wishes to express its most profound gratitude to the Statistics Division that partnered to provide information contained in this Statistical Abstract 2015 - 2017.
Developed in-house by the members of the Research & Communications Department, this publication, which is one of many statistical publications that emanates from the Department, provides guidance to the Directorate of our organization, and in particular, showcases the exceptional talent that resides within the ABSSB family.The ABSSB encourages all stakeholders to read this publication with the expectation that they are welcomed, at all times, to engage the ABSSB for further clarification and discussion.Geoffrey JosephDeputy DirectorFOREWORD 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD7ABSSB Antigua & Barbuda Social Security BoardEC$ Eastern Caribbean DollarGov’t GovernmentILO International Labour OrganizationISIC International Standard Industrial Classifications of all Economic ActivitiesISSA International Social Security AdministrationOECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean StatesP ProvisionalR5As Remittance FormsR RevisedLIST OF ACRONYMS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT8Active EmployerActive Insured PersonAdministrative Expenditure as a Percentage of ContributionAdministrative Expenditure as a Percentage of Insurable EarningsAnnual Insurable EarningsAverage Annual EarningsBenefitsContribution WeekContribution YearContribution Income RateCost/FundingExpenditure RateIncome RateAn active employer must own an active business to which at least one contribution was paid during the reference year.Any person aged 16 to the pensionable age in respect of whom at least one contribution has been paid into the ABSSB during the reference year.The portion of contribution income used to cover administrative expenses.The portion of insurable earnings necessary to fund the administrative expenses of the ABSSB.The total insurable earnings in those weeks for which contributions are paid in a given contribution year.The average of earnings made by the employees of the respective categories during any 52 week period.Any benefit so deemed under the Social Security Act Cap.
408.A period of seven days commencing from midnight between Sunday and Monday.Any calendar year in which an insured person pays thirteen or more weekly contributions or the monthly equivalent thereof.The total contribution income collected in a given year/period as a percentage of the insurable earnings.This embodies the relevance/meaningfulness of the coverage to the beneficiary; and, the reasonableness of the qualifying conditions with regard to the benefit earned.The portion of total insurable earnings that is required to cover the total cost of operations at the ABSSB.This rate expresses the total income collected in a given year as a percentage of total insurable earnings.DEFINITION OF TERMS 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD9Insurable EarningsInsurable EmploymentLabour ForceOld Age Dependency RatioParticipation RatePension as a % of GDPPerformance IndicatorsPrivate SectorPublic SectorReference year/periodReserve-Expenditure RatioSocial SecurityStatisticsThe total amount of earnings that an insured person has made from insurable employment.Any employment specified in Section 19 of the Social Security Act Cap.
408 and any related Regulations.“All persons aged 15 – 64 years engaged in any form of economic activity for at least one hour during the reference week or who were willing and able to be engaged in producing economic goods and services.” – Statistics Division.The rate of population 60+ to working age population.The percent of active contributors to estimated working age population.The value of Social Security pension expenditure of all associated costs.A useful tool to assist managers or policy makers to take more effective action in the planning and decision-making process as well as operational processes.All establishments inclusive of self-employment that are not Public Sector.All government establishments including statutory organizations.The year (period) to which a set of data refers.The asset levels of the ABSSB available to fund its total expenditure in the reference year.“The protection furnished by society to its members, by a series of public measures against the economic and social distress that would otherwise be caused by the stoppage or substantial reduction of earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, invalidity, old age, and death … and, to subsidize families with or without children [-Survivors’ Arrangement].” ~ILOThe science dealing with the collection, findings, analysis, and presentation of data.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT10PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2016 2017 % CHANGE National Population (60+ years) 11,369 11,816 3.9%National Population (15 – 59 years) 60,592 61,446 1.4% New Insured Persons Registrants 2,643 2,759 4.4%Active Insured Employees 41,958 42,639 1.6%Participation Rate 54.2% 55.7% 1.5%Number of Contributing Employers 3,001 3,071 2.3%Number of Contributing Self-Employed Persons 1,947 1,956 0.5% Insurable Wage (EC$M) 1,222.692 1,242.490 1.6%Total Income (EC$M) 122.056 142.932 17.1%Contribution Income (EC$M) 118.665 139.515 17.5%Investment Income (EC$M) 3.391 3.483 2.7% Total Administrative Expenditure (EC$M) 12.470 16.016 28.4%Administrative Expenditure as a % of Contribution Income 10.5% 11.5% 1.0%Administrative Expenditure as a % of Total Income 10.2% 11.2% 1.0%Administrative Expenditure as a % of Insurable Wage 1.0% 1.3% 0.3%Employee-Related Cost : Administrative Expenditure Ratio 73.2% 56.9% -16.3% Benefits Expenditure (EC$M) 122.053 132.967 8.9%New Benefit Claims Awarded 7,820 8,073 3.2%Benefit Recipients 21,467 22,222 3.5%Number of Contributory Pensioners (at year-end) 10,537 10,982 4.2%Number of Non-Contributory Pensioners (at year-end) 59 46 -22.0%Old-Age Dependency Ratio 19.1% 19.6% 0.5%Percent of Senior Citizens receiving ABSSB’s Age Pension 81.5% 82.1% 0.6%Average Pension (EC$) 896.80 939.06 4.7% Total Expenditure (EC$M) 135.076 149.293 10.5% Social Security Reserves as a % of GDP 16.1% 15.5% -0.6%KEY SOCIAL SECURITY INDICATORS 2015 - 2017
 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD11SECTION 01REGISTRATION ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT12This section presents statistics on registration of eligible persons in Antigua & Barbuda.
Indicators include the registration of potential new employees, employers and self-employed persons.

The Social Security Act CAP.

408 stipulates that “all persons intending to take up employment as employed persons under the Act are required to be registered…”.

This includes all persons aged 16 to the pensionable age1, both years inclusive.
Each person that registers with the ABSSB becomes an insured person for life; and, is given a Social Security number - the individual’s unique identifier – for use in conducting any business with the ABSSB.

The Social Security Act Cap.

408 also states that all employers shall be registered within seven days of employing the first employee.The Antigua & Barbuda Constitution Cap.

23 provides for a census every 10 years.


This enumeration of the population is used as a benchmark for the inter-censual population estimates.

The mid-year population estimates for Antigua & Barbuda are published by the Statistics Division.
These estimates may be used as a base for analyzing the registration coverage of the ABSSB.Figure 1 REGISTRATION ACTIVITY, 2015 - 2017REGISTRATION 1 61 as of 1st January 2017 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD13Table 1.1 REGISTRATION OF INSURED PERSONS BY AGE GROUP AND GENDER, 2015 – 2017AGE GROUP 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female16 - 19 years 444 505 453 500 538 55620 - 29 years 457 419 464 465 495 47730 - 39 years 146 159 194 205 173 18540 - 49 years 119 99 110 131 115 10250 - 59 years 55 50 67 47 68 4560+ years 4 0 5 2 3 2Total 1,225 1,232 1,293 1,350 1,392 1,367Source: ABSSB Figure 2 INSURED PERSONS REGISTRATION BY GENDER, 2015 - 2017Numbers of Registrants ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT14Table 1.2 REGISTRATION OF INSURED PERSONS BY REGION OF BIRTH AND GENDER, 2015 - 2017REGION OF BIRTH 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male FemaleAntigua & Barbuda 623 574 611 562 656 609Caribbean 352 434 442 559 482 547International 250 224 240 229 254 211Total 1,225 1,232 1,293 1,350 1,392 1,367Source: ABSSB Table 1.3 REGISTRATION OF INSURED PERSONS BY NATIONALITY AND GENDER, 2015 - 2017NATIONALITY 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male FemaleAntigua & Barbuda 722 710 702 685 788 736OECS 153 149 138 168 223 291CARICOM 155 229 268 349 218 216International 195 144 185 148 163 124Total 1,225 1,232 1,293 1,350 1,392 1,367Source: ABSSB Table 1.4 REGISTRATIONS BY TYPE OF EMPLOYERS, 2015 - 2017YEAR Employers
 Self-Employed Total2015 311 460 7712016 356 424 7802017 351 449 800Source: ABSSB Table 1.5 DISTRIBUTION OF INSURED PERSON REGISTRANTS AND EXITS, 2015 - 2017YEAR Registrants Deaths2015 2,457 3502016 2,643 3502017 2,759 357Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD15SECTION 02INSURED POPULATION ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT16The principal source of the data on insured persons is sourced from the ABSSB database.
Data are initially gathered from the various contribution processes and entered using the Social Security IT platform.

Population, the Labour Force and the Employed Population data sets were sourced from the Statistics Division and were subsequently collated.
According to the Statistics Division, the Labour Force is comprised of all persons aged 15 years up to age 64 who are engaged in any form of economic activity, for at least one hour, during the reference week, or who are willing and able to be engaged in producing economic goods and services.

Also included are persons who were temporarily absent from work during the reference period.
Hence, the Labour Force is made up of all persons who either had jobs (the Employed), or those who did not have jobs, but were willing and able to work (the Unemployed).
Labour Force indicators used include: -• the General Employment Rate – the percentage of employed persons within the Labour Force; • ABSSB’s participation rate in the Labour Force – the percentage of active insured persons within the Labour Force; and,• ABSSB’s participation rate in the insured population – the percentage of active insured persons within the ABSSB’s population aged 16 to the pensionable age.The industries, monitored by the ABSSB, are aggregated according to ISIC Rev.
IV, the internationally accepted standard used to classify the kinds of economic activity being described.
INSURED POPULATION 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD17Figure 3Figure 3 TYPES OF POPULATION, 2015 - 2017 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT18Figure 4 PARTICIPATION RATES, 2012 – 2017 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD19 2 Statistics Division: 15 – 64 years 3 ABSSB: 16 – 60 yearsTable 2.1 ACTIVE INSURED PERSONS AND THE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATES, 2015 - 2017YEARLabour Force Population2ABSSB’s Insured Population3Active Insured Population% Active Insured Participation in the Labour Force% Active Insured Participation in the Insured Population2015 68,927 76,403 40,335 58.5% 52.8%2016 69,991 77,352 41,958 59.9% 54.2%2017 71,073 78,338 42,639 60.0% 55.7%Source: ABSSB Figure 5 DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE INSURED PERSONS BY INDUSTRY, 2017 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT20 4 Inclusive of Employees with dual employmentTable 2.2 ACTIVE INSURED PERSONS4 BY INDUSTRY, 2015 - 2017INDUSTRY 2015 2016 2017 Num.
% Num.

% Num.
%Accommodation and food service activities 8,234 19.78 8,705 19.91 8,133 18.82 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households... 896 2.15 840 1.92 740 1.71 Administrative and support service activities 2,438 5.86 2,690 6.15 2,829 6.55 Agriculture, forestry and fishing 174 0.42 184 0.42 181 0.42 Arts, entertainment and recreation 1,035 2.49 1,044 2.39 988 2.29 Construction 1,737 4.17 2,231 5.10 2,043 4.73 Education 1,348 3.24 1,356 3.10 1,342 3.11 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 927 2.23 877 2.01 891 2.06 Financial and insurance activities 1,409 3.39 1,467 3.36 1,388 3.21 Human health and social work activities 1,444 3.47 1,490 3.41 1,477 3.42 Information and communication 619 1.49 635 1.45 639 1.48 Manufacturing 1,283 3.08 1,264 2.89 1,276 2.95 Mining and quarrying 49 0.12 38 0.09 27 0.06Other service activities 774 1.86 648 1.48 635 1.47 Professional, scientific and technical activities 703 1.69 718 1.64 820 1.90 Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 8,998 21.62 9,518 21.77 9,433 21.83 Real estate activities 961 2.31 1,099 2.51 1,111 2.57 Transportation and storage 2,262 5.44 2,307 5.28 2,285 5.29 Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 82 0.20 69 0.16 90 0.21 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 6,246 15.01 6,531 14.94 6,886 15.93 TOTAL 41,619 100.00 43,711 100.00 43,214 100.00 Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
 SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD21SECTION 03CONTRIBUTIONS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT22This section presents data on Contribution Income remitted to the ABSSB.
An active employer must own an active business which is defined as remitting at least one contribution payment during the reference year5.Contributions are computed as a percentage of insurable earnings.

All persons in insurable employment pay a share of their earnings into the Social Security Fund.

This share amounts to 5% for private sector employees and 4% for public sector employees, whereas employers pay 7% commencing February 2017.
The amount payable is based on the Social Security ceiling of $6,500.

The 1% differential in percentage payable is due to public sector employees being exempted from claiming sickness benefit.

Self-employed persons pay 10% of their declared earnings also up to the Social Security ceiling of $6,500.

The ABSSB operates a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) system.

Therefore, contributions collected are used to finance current benefit and operational expenditures.
For insured persons who are receiving a benefit, no contributions shall be paid on their behalf.CONTRIBUTIONS 5 ISSAFigure 6 CONTRIBUTION INCOME VS. BENEFITS EXPENDITURE, 2013-2017 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD23Table 3.3 DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS (%) COLLECTED BY SECTOR, 2015 - 2017SECTOR YEAR 2015 2016 2017Government 22.0 26.1 19.8Private 69.1 65.6 69.1Statutory 6.5 5.9 8.7Self-Employed 2.4 2.4 2.4Total 100.0 100.0 100.0Source: ABSSB Table 3.2 TOTAL CONTRIBUTION INCOME (EC$) COLLECTED BY SECTOR, 2015 - 2017SECTOR YEAR 2015 2016 2017Government 24,861,154.45 30,926,284.12 27,628,463.30Private 77,908,557.18 77,879,221.50 96,403,825.09Statutory 7,342,835.45 7,008,424.74 12,105,697.00Self-Employed 2,667,979.99 2,851,428.39 3,376,556.33Total 112,780,527.07 118,665,358.75 139,514,541.72Source: ABSSB Table 3.1 ANALYSIS OF CONTRIBUTION INCOME AND BENEFIT EXPENDITURE, 2012 – 2017YEAR Contribution Income (EC$) Benefit Expenditure (EC$) Benefit / Contributions (%)2012 82,666,735.65 90,432,140.00 109.42013 112,514,391.00 99,054,159.61 88.02014 99,653,125.81 105,696,094.23 106.12015 112,780,527.07 114,463,414.34 101.52016 118,665,358.75 122,052,664.20 102.92017 139,514,541.72 132,966,857.72 95.3Source: ABSSB ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT24Table 3.4 CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYERS’ PARTICIPATION RATE, 2015 - 2017YEAR Active Employers Contributing % Contributing Employers6 P Employers of Active Employers2015 9,591 4,889 50.92016 10,335
 4,948 48.02017 11,128 5,027 45.2Source: ABSSB Figure 7 DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY, 2017 6 Inclusive of Self-Employed Persons 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD25Figure 8 CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYERS AS A % OF ACTIVE EMPLOYERS, 2015 - 2017 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT26 7 Self-Employed Persons not IncludedTable 3.5 CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYERS7 BY INDUSTRY, 2015 - 2017INDUSTRY 2015 2016 2017 Num.
% Num.

% Num.
%Accommodation and food service activities 375 12.27 391 12.65 387 13.1Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use 594 19.44 569 18.41 481 16.2Administrative and support service activities 137 4.48 133 4.30 136 4.6Agriculture, forestry and fishing 52 1.70 51 1.65 51 1.7Arts, entertainment and recreation 42 1.37 43 1.39 43 1.5Construction 210 6.87 228 7.38 219 7.4Education 119 3.90 121 3.92 120 4.0Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 7 0.23 9 0.29 9 0.3Financial and insurance activities 80 2.62 80 2.59 80 2.7Human health and social work activities 104 3.40 108 3.50 108 3.6Information and communication 39 1.28 36 1.17 37 1.2Manufacturing 144 4.71 149 4.82 147 5.0Mining and quarrying 1 0.03 1 0.03 1 0.0Other service activities 168 5.50 160 5.18 151 5.1Professional, scientific and technical activities 134 4.39 139 4.50 143 4.8Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 82 2.68 79 2.56 79 2.7Real estate activities 57 1.87 61 1.97 67 2.3Transportation and storage 110 3.60 127 4.11 124 4.2Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 15 0.49 12 0.39 14 0.5Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 585 19.15 593 19.19 566 19.1TOTAL 3,055 100.00 3,090 100.00 2,963 100.00 Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD27SECTION 04BENEFITS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT28This
 section presents information on social security benefits namely, sickness, maternity, age, invalidity, survivors, funeral grant and non-contributory pension.
QUALIFYING CRITERIA:Sickness Benefit - Must have been engaged in insurable employment the day before the onset of the illness, paid at least 26 weekly contributions and have worked at least 8 weeks in the 3 calendar months before the illness began.

Sickness benefit may be payable for a further 13 weeks subject to a second medical certificate from a medical practitioner registered in Antigua & Barbuda.

The insured must also be under age 60.


Maternity Allowance is payable to an insured woman for a maximum of 13 weeks but not earlier than six (6) weeks from the expected date of confinement.

Maternity Grant is awarded to a woman or her spouse.

The rate of Maternity grant is $560 per child.Funeral Grant is given to cover expenses of the funeral for a deceased insured person in the amount of $2,500 to the person or persons whose name/s appear on the receipt from the funeral home.
Age Pension - The age of eligibility is 60/618 years.

The pension is not dependent on retirement from the workforce.

The rate of pension is 25% of average insurable earnings over the best 5 years out of the last 10 years, plus 1% for every set of 50 contributions over 500.

The maximum rate is 50% of average insurable earnings.

The minimum age pension is $350 per month, which also applies to Invalidity and Survivors pensions.
Age Grant - 75% of the total contributions (employer & employee) paid or $1,200, whichever is greater.

Invalidity Pension - is payable to an insured worker who cannot work due to a specific illness which is likely to be permanent.

To receive this benefit, the insured should have paid a minimum of 156 weekly contributions and has not attained 60 years.

Invalidity Grant - 75% of the total contributions (employer & employee) paid or $1,200, whichever is greater.
Survivors’ Pension - Survivors of the deceased who may be entitled to payments are widows, invalid widowers, unmarried children (including adopted & step-children).

For widows and widowers, marriage (legal or common law) must have taken place before the insured person started receiving a pension.

Children up to age 16, or 18 if attending school, or invalid of any age.

Survivors’ Grant - 75% of the total contributions (employer & employee) paid or $1,200, whichever is greater.
Non-Contributory Pension - In 1993, the Non-Contributory Pension program or Old Age Assistance was initiated by the Government of Antigua & Barbuda as part of poverty alleviation for persons age 65 years and older at the time of enactment of this Legislation, or 60 years if blind or disabled with an annual income of $5,000.
The amount paid is $255 per month.BENEFITS8 As at 1st January 2017 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD29Table 4.1 BENEFITS EXPENDITURE R (EC$) BY BRANCH/BENEFIT, 2015 - 2017BRANCH/BENEFIT 2015 2016 2017Short Term• Sickness Benefit 3,523,352 3,461,711 3,559,986• Maternity Allowance 3,046,496 2,812,982 2,822,659• Maternity Grant 401,520 365,343 365,740• Age Grant 612,658 516,963 1,058,478• Survivors’ Grant 26,178 19,791 3,884• Invalidity Grant 18,307 0 4,559• Funeral Grant 949,851 846,118 846,920Sub-total 8,578,362 8,022,909 8,662,226Long Term• Age Pension 98,189,728.53 106,089,851.45 115,955,347.31• Invalidity Pension 2,361,637.07 2,523,488.39 2,657,687.16• Survivors’ Pension 5,097,046.71 5,222,105.85 5,532,806.43Sub-total 105,648,412.31 113,835,445.69 124,145,840.90Non-Contributory Pension 236,640.00 194,310.00 158,791.03Total 114,463,414 122,052,664 132,966,858Source: ABSSB Table 4.2 TOTAL CLAIMS R PROCESSED BY YEAR, 2015 - 2017YEAR Total Claims Total Claims % of Claims Submitted Approved Processed2015 9,179 8,092 88.22016 9,125 7,820 85.72017 9,860 8,073 81.9 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT30Table 4.3 AGE PENSIONERS BY AGE GROUP AND GENDER AS AT DECEMBER, 2015 - 2017AGE GROUP 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female60 – 64 years 1,385 1,715 1,408 1,771 1,390 1,839 65 – 69 years 1,204 1,360 1,248 1,445 1,297 1,463 70 – 74 years 689 784 755 885 848 973 75 – 79 years 366 436 375 454 408 520 80 – 84 years 218 268 251 298
 255 318 85 – 89 years 115 153 100 157 103 167 > 90 years 59 70 54 74 53 82 Total 4,036 4,786 4,191 5,084 4,354 5,362 Source: ABSSB Table 4.5 INVALIDITY PENSIONERS BY AGE GROUP AND GENDER AS AT DECEMBER, 2015 - 2017AGE GROUP 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female20 – 29 years 0 2 0 1 1 130 – 39 years 3 5 4 5 4 540 – 49 years 20 31 18 31 14 3050 – 59 years 77 121 75 121 71 11560 – 69 years 3 4 6 9 3 5> 69 years 1 2 1 1 2 1Total 104 165 104 168 95 157Source: ABSSB Table 4.4 MEAN MONTHLY PAYMENT OF
 AGE PENSION BY GENDER AS AT DECEMBER, 2012 - 2017GENDER YEARS 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017Male $883.56 $941.82 $909.67 $928.54 $953.48 $994.26Female $884.74 $943.20 $909.56 $926.64 $952.94 $994.77Mean Monthly Payment $884.18 $942.56 $909.62 $927.51 $953.19 $994.54Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD31Table 4.6 MEAN MONTHLY PAYMENT OF INVALIDITY PENSION BY GENDER AS AT DECEMBER, 2012 - 2017GENDER YEARS 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017Male $704.10 $726.88 $738.49 $732.33 $772.41 $878.90Female $703.24 $728.46 $737.82 $731.15 $773.57 $878.84Mean Monthly Payment $703.54 $727.91 $738.08 $731.61 $773.13 $878.86Source: ABSSB Table 4.7 TYPES OF SURVIVORS’ PENSION AWARDEES, 2015 - 2017SURVIVORS 2015 2016 2017Widows 50 30 43Children 75 78 76Total Survivors 125 108 119Source: ABSSB Table 4.8 NUMBER OF CHILDREN SURVIVED BY DECEASED INSURED PERSONS, 2015 - 2017NUMBER OF CHILDREN NO.
OF DECEASED INSURED PERSONS BY YEAR 2015 2016 20171 30 17 172 12 7 83 1 3 34 0 0 2Source: ABSSB ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT32SECTION 05EARNINGS 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD33EARNINGSInsurable earnings include salary, overtime payments, cost of living allowance, commissions, service charge payments, additional payments in respect of dependants, payment for night or shift work, incentive pay, production bonus, danger or thrift money, etc.
Earnings, that are covered for the purpose of determining contributions and benefits, are limited to EC$1,500 per week; EC$3,000 per fortnight; or EC$6,500 per month as of May 2013.

Data on wages and employment originate with the employer and plays a critical role in any social security parametric reforms.

Statistics on earnings and insurable wages are compiled upon receipt and subsequent processing of employers’ remittance forms.
Insurable earnings9 are used to calculate benefit payments in accordance with the Social Security Act and Regulations.
9 whether weekly, fortnightly or monthly Figure 9 REPORTED GROSS WAGE BY MAJOR SECTORS, 2012 - 2017Table 5.1 DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED GROSS WAGE (EC$M) BY SECTOR, 2012 – 2017YEAR Public Private Self-Employed2012 R 354.481 804.832 20.1622013 R 361.133 811.987 21.4392014 R 364.145 844.127 23.8942015 385.905 880.383 28.7212016 409.302 910.411 35.4592017 422.549 923.611 35.413Source: ABSSB ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT34Table 5.2 DISTRIBUTION OF ESTIMATED ANNUAL EARNINGS (EC$M) BY INDUSTRY, 2015 - 2017INDUSTRY 2015 2016 2017 EC$M % EC$M % EC$M %Accommodation and food service activities 257.85 20.15 267.89 20.06 243.50 18.42Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use 12.92 1.01 11.72 0.88 10.40 0.79Administrative and support service activities 45.95 3.59 47.85 3.58 45.85 3.47Agriculture, forestry and fishing 3.54 0.28 3.94 0.30 3.67 0.28Arts, entertainment and recreation 39.12 3.06 40.98 3.07 43.12 3.26Construction 36.60 2.86 43.02 3.22 47.35 3.58Education 34.48 2.69 36.25 2.71 36.71 2.78Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 45.34 3.54 46.43 3.48 35.53 2.69Financial and insurance activities 93.35 7.29 90.78 6.80 94.08 7.12Human health and social work activities 41.90 3.27 43.01 3.22 44.14 3.34Information and communication 33.38 2.61 30.43 2.28 27.83 2.11Manufacturing 42.83 3.35 43.97 3.29 43.70 3.31Mining and quarrying 0.83 0.06 0.78 0.06 0.63 0.05Other service activities 19.81
 1.55 17.69 1.32 17.13 1.30Professional, scientific and technical activities 25.90 2.02 27.00 2.02 29.32 2.22Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 263.37 20.58 282.55 21.16 284.82 21.55Real estate activities 27.99 2.19 36.89 2.76 37.87 2.87Transportation and storage 101.36 7.92 104.45 7.82 106.54 8.06Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 3.03 0.24 3.14 0.24 2.34 0.18Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 150.38 11.75 156.47
 11.72 167.09 12.64Total 1,279.89 100.00 1,335.24 100.00 1,321.65 100.00Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD35Figure 11Table 5.3a AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME BANDS BY GENDER, 2015 - 2017INCOME BANDS 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female<$3000.00 10,461 15,199 10,921 15,617 11,081 15,794$3,000.00 - $5,999.99 5,733 5,900 6,028 6,119 6,093 6,122$6,000.00 - $9,999.99 1,145 940 1,216 1,027 1,209 1,029$10,000.00 - $14,999.99 354 232 340 241 376 245$15,000.00 - $19,999.99 155 61 161 59 150 63$20,000.00 - $24,999.99 42 23 49 18 46 20>=$25,000.00 56 21 55 12 62 22Total 17,946 22,376 18,770 23,093 19,017 23,295Source: ABSSB Figure 10 AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME BY GENDER, 2015 - 2017Average Monthly Income ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT36Table 5.3b AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME BANDS BY GENDER – PUBLIC SECTOR, 2015 - 2017INCOME BANDS 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female<$3000.00 2,598 4,673 2,653 4,840 2,660 4,885 $3,000.00 - $5,999.99 1,988 2,312 2,040 2,425 2,048 2,468 $6,000.00 - $9,999.99 302 221 341 244 350 247 $10,000.00 - $14,999.99 31 30 44 38 41 30 $15,000.00 - $19,999.99 16 2 16 4 17 6 $20,000.00 - $24,999.99 3 2 1 1 4 2 >=$25,000.00 6 2 6 - 9 - Total 4,944 7,242 5,101 7,552 5,129 7,638 Source: ABSSB Table 5.3c AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME BANDS BY GENDER – PRIVATE SECTOR, 2015 - 2017INCOME BANDS 2015 2016 2017 Male Female Male Female Male Female<$3000.00 7,863 10,526
 8,268 10,777 8,421 10,909 $3,000.00 - $5,999.99 3,745 3,588 3,988 3,694 4,045 3,654 $6,000.00 - $9,999.99 843 719 875 783 859 782 $10,000.00 - $14,999.99 323 202 296 203 335 215 $15,000.00 - $19,999.99 139 59 145 55 133 57 $20,000.00 - $24,999.99 39 21 48 17 42 18 >=$25,000.00 50 19 49 12 53 22 Total 13,002 15,134 13,669 15,541 13,888 15,657 Source: ABSSB 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD37SECTION 06KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD •
 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT38KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSTable 6.1 ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS TO AGE PENSIONERS, 2015 - 2017YEAR Active Contributors Age Pensioners Ratio2015 40,155 8,818 4.62016 41,958 9,260 4.52017 42,639 9,702 4.4Source: ABSSB Figure 11 COST/FUNDING RATES AS A % OF TOTAL INSURABLE WAGE, 2013– 2017Percentage 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD39Figure 12 FUNDING RATIO, 2012 – 2017Figure 13 ADMIN.
EXPENDITURE AS A % OF CONTRIBUTION INCOME, 2012 - 2017 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT40Figure 14 ADMIN.
EXPENSE AS A % OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE, 2012 - 2017Figure 15 PENSION EXPENDITURE AS A % OF GDP, 2012 - 2017 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD41Figure 16 INCOME BY MAJOR CATEGORIES, 2012 - 2017Figure 17 EXPENDITURE BY MAJOR CATEGORIES, 2012 - 2017 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD • 2015 - 2017 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT42Figure 18 INCOME, EXPENDITURE, SURPLUS/DEFICIT, 2012 - 2017 “Nothing in the history of social policy has transformed the life of the common man … more … than the assurance that in the event of loss of income through accident, poor health, unemployment, death … he will not be forced into destitution.” ~ Wilfred Jenks Director-General (former) ILO (1971) Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board Long St. P.O.
Box 1125, St. John’s, Antigua Phone: (268) 736-3000/1/2/3Fax: (268) 481-3090 Email: socsec@socialsecurity.gov.ag