Kellier

Governmentis expected to make some structural adjustments to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to increase retirees' access to the funds.

Fielding questions during Wednesday's session of the Standing Finance Committee considering the 2007/2008 estimates and expenditures, Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier pledged to have legislation reviewed in order to expand the time frame for retirees to apply for benefits under the fund. Currently, retirees are given only a year after retirement in which to apply.

In addition, Mr. Kellier also guaranteed that there would be adjustments to legislation in order to increase the access of poor retirees who were unable to contribute to the fund during their working life, to benefit more.

Under the current policy, such persons who have not contributed to the fund are only guaranteed some funding at the age of 100 or older.

"We have a programme that will be coming on stream during this financial year to address those persons who fell between the cracks for one reason or the other," he said.

"I cannot tell you that they will necessarily receive the same level of pension support as the other contributors but they will be receiving an amount that will assist them," Kellier said.