The Grenada House Of Representatives has expanded the definition of a “child”, affording him or her, rights to NIS benefits when there’s death of the insured in the parental household.
An amendment to the National Insurance Act was deliberated and passed yesterday in this regard.
Relative to the amendment, and according to the MP Phillip Telesford, the Leader of Government Business who piloted the Bill, the age range of a child as a beneficiary is now considered as being under-18.
He did say the law in its current form posed certain challenges for potential beneficiaries and that the new definition seeks to overcome the problems.
The amendment to the legislation yesterday comes into force 1stAugust 2023.
It also calls for increase in fines where employers and individuals fail to be paying deducted contributions and making false statements to the NIS office.
The fine will increase to 5,000 dollars.
Violators of Section 64 of the Act will now face a 2,000-dollar fine.
An offence under this section includes receiving payment for a person or beneficiary where payment of a benefit has been suspended and providing false documents to the NIS to claim a benefit such as a widow or a widower entitlement.
