To qualify for the maternity benefit, an employed person:
a) must have been insured for at least 26 contribution weeks; and
b) must have paid at least 16 contributions in the two contribution quarters but one before the contribution quarter in which the benefit could become payable.
To qualify for the maternity benefit, a self-employed person:
a) must have not less than 39 contributions paid or credited to her account in the four consecutive quarters, ending with the quarter but one before the contribution quarter in which benefit could become payable; and
b) must have paid at least 16 contributions in the two contribution quarters but one before the contribution quarter in which the benefit could become payable.
Providing that the required conditions have been met/ satisfied, the daily rate of maternity benefits is 100% of the insured person’s average insurable weekly earnings, divided by 6.
Benefit payable from: 1st January 2019
Relevant quarter: April to September 2018
Monthly salary during the relevant quarter: $3,000
Total Insurable Earnings in the relevant quarters: $3,000 * 6 = $18,000
Average weekly rate: $18,000/ 26 = $692.31
Weekly benefit rate: $692.31 * 100% = $692.31
Daily benefit rate: $692.31/ 6 = $115.38
Average insurable weekly earnings means the sum of the insurable earnings on which contributions were based over the two contribution quarters but one before the contribution quarter in which maternity benefit is payable divided by the number of weeks in the quarter.
If at the end of the maternity benefit period, the insured person is incapable of work because of pathological complications of confinement, sickness benefit may be paid provided that on the first day from which maternity benefit was payable the insured person had title to sickness benefit.
Payment of the maternity benefit is not affected by any payments which the employer may make to the claimant while she is off for maternity leave.
The maternity benefit is not payable to a person who is out of the island unless that person has gone for the purpose of receiving medical attention.