ALERTS & NOTICES

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COVID-19 UAB

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you are looking for more information about the Unemployment Assistance application process or to review the Frequently Asked Questions, please explore the help topics below.

  • The Social Security Board and the Government of Anguilla have collaborated to provide a temporary Unemployment/Underemployment Assistance Benefit (UAB), for persons whose employment has been affected as a result of the global Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).
  • Full details of the operation of the Unemployment Benefit Assistance can be found in the SOCIAL SECURITY (UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE) (TEMPORARY BENEFITS) REGULATIONS, 2020.

EMPLOYEES AND THE SELF EMPLOYED

  • For employees to qualify to receive a benefit, they must be registered in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act.
  • They must have either been unemployed (i.e. either laid off or terminated) as a result of COVID-19,
  • Or they must be underemployed (i.e. currently earning less than EC$1,000 a month) as a result of COVID-19.
  • For self-employed persons their business must have been closed as a result of COVID-19.
  • Employees must have been unemployed or underemployed for 15 days or more prior to making a claim.
    In calculating the time that persons have been unemployed or underemployed, public holidays are included but Sundays are excluded.
  • Their employer must have been making Social Security contributions on their behalf for at least 50 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) prior to or up to February 1st, 2020.
  • For claims to be valid they must be made on the official application form UAB-1 provided online.
  • Self-employed persons may be required to provide Social Security with additional information to support their claim.
  • Payments of up to EC$1,000 will be made to each claimant for up to 3 months once eligibility exists.
  • The target date for commencing payments is April 30th, 2020.
  • Payments will continue to be made until June 30th, 2020.
  • If an employee is receiving another Social Security benefit related to their inability to work, they will get the difference between that benefit and the EC$1,000 payment.
    Eg: If the employee is receiving a maternity benefit of EC$600, then the payment amount will be EC$400.
  • If an employee is currently working but is receiving less than EC$1,000, they will receive the difference between what they are earning and EC$1,000.
    Eg: If an employee is working part-time and receiving a wage of EC$750 monthly, then that employee will be eligible to receive a payment amount of EC$250.
  • Persons will not be eligible to receive Unemployment Assistance Benefit under the following circumstances.
    1. They must have either been unemployed (i.e. either laid off or terminated) as a result of COVID-19,
    2. Or they must be underemployed (i.e. currently earning less than EC$1,000 a month) as a result of COVID-19.
    3. For self-employed persons their business must have been closed as a result of COVID-19.
    4. Employees must have been unemployed or underemployed for 15 days or more prior to making a claim.
      In calculating the time that persons have been unemployed or underemployed, public holidays are included but Sundays are excluded.
    5. Their employer must have been making Social Security contributions on their behalf for at least 50 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) prior to or up to February 1st, 2020.
    6. They are Age Pensioners.
  • In accordance with the safety guidelines and social distancing protocol, the UAB will be an online process. An electronic platform is being created to facilitate the submission and processing of applications. Through this web application, persons are required to complete and submit their application claim forms.
  • Persons who are eligible for the assistance are therefore encouraged to complete and submit their applications electronically via this online web application portal, using any electronic device such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC.
  • The platform is expected to become available by the April 20th, 2020, and can be accessed at uassistance.ai. The public will be duly notified when the platform is ready for application submissions and when payments are being made. Where necessary, guidance will be provided for completion and submission of the application forms via the web portal.

FOR EMPLOYERS

  • In order to ensure that the information provided by employees is accurate,all employers are required to verify their employees’ information to the satisfaction of the Social Security Board.
  • Once employees submit their UAB-1 Claim Forms, staff from the Social Security Office will reach out to their employers in order to have the information on their forms validated.
  • Businesses who employ more than 15 persons will be provided with a special spreadsheet as an alternative means of providing employment information.
  • Those major employers who have already laid off and/or terminated staff are required to complete and send in the spreadsheet right away to Social Security.
  • If an employer is considering laying off or terminating staff as a result of the impact of COVID-19, once those staff apply for unemployment assistance, that employer will be contacted by Social Security to validate their staff’s information.
  • Please be aware that if employers fail to validate their employees’ information, such persons will be unable to receive a benefit under the programme.
  • Any information that might be requested as part of the employer validation process must be submitted to the Social Security Board at info@ssbai.com.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Social Security Office at telephone numbers 264-497-2201/2 or 3201/2, or email at info@ssbai.com.

The estimated average time to complete this application is 5 minutes. If you have any comments regarding this Application process you can write to the Anguilla Social Security Board, James Ronald Webster Building, P.O Box 243, The Valley, AI-2640, Anguilla BWI, or email benefits@ssbai.com.