Voluntary

Voluntary

A voluntary contributor is someone who is between ages 16 and 60, and while not employed or self-employed, wish to continue to have contributions paid on their behalf.

The contribution rate for a voluntary contributor is 6.75% of total insurable earnings. The maximum earnings on which contributions are payable is $5,200.00 per month.

Voluntary contributors must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Be ordinarily resident in Grenada
  • Not be in the employment of another person

To register as a voluntary contributor, visit any NIS office.

A voluntary contributor is entitled to the following benefits: Age, Invalidity, Survivors and Funeral

Any person who was perviously employed my apply to the National Insurance Board for approval to pay contributions voluntarily for the purpose of: 

  • Keeping his/her contributions unbroken
  • enabling him to receive a pension
60

FAQs

Under the CARICOM Reciprocal Agreement on Social Security, if a person works in more than one member country and paid sufficient contributions in each country to qualify for a pension then, each country is required to pay him a separate pension based on its local Regulations. However, if he did not pay sufficient contributions to qualify for a pension in each country, the contributions paid in each member country is combined to assist him/her in meeting the qualifying conditions for such a pension. If upon combining his contributions he qualifies for such a pension, each member country where he worked is required to pay a proportional amount of the pension payable. Grenada is a party to the CARICOM Reciprocal Agreement on Social Security,

 Grenada also has a Reciprocal arrangement with the Canadian Social Security.

That is the maximum salary on which NIS contributions must be deducted. Currently it is $5,200 for monthly paid workers. This includes:

  • Overtime payment;
  • Cost of living bonus;
  • Commission on sales or similar payments;
  • Gratuities
  • Payments for night or shift-work
  • Production bonus;
  • Service charge
  • Holiday pay etc.

Every employee/self-employed person in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique (including non-nationals) must register with the NIS, and must pay contributions.

The NIS encourages all contributors to visit the office periodically to find out whether their contributions are actually being paid and that all other personal information are in order.