Unemployment Assistance Fund - Antigua & Barbuda

Facts:
1. The Unemployment Assistance Fund (UAF) is intended to provide income to persons who have been made
redundant or have been temporarily laid-off due to the ongoing global economic crisis. The UAF is a programme
developed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and administered by the Social Security
Board of Control.
2. To qualify for Unemployment Assistance one must:
a. Be a citizen, a temporary resident, or a legal resident who has lived in Antigua and Barbuda for not less
than three (3) years
b. Have contributed to the Social Security Board of Control, Medical Benefits Scheme and the Board of
Education for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months – the last such contribution occurring in
the month immediately prior to the commencement of unemployment.
c. Have made all relevant Personal Income Tax (PIT) payments for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive
months.
d. Not have attained the pensionable age
e. Have been unemployed for at least four (4) weeks
f. Have been employed with a firm that downsized or closed due to the global economic crisis on or after
October 1st 2008.
3. Claimants must be prepared to show proof that they are actively seeking employment during the period of
receiving Unemployment Assistance. Claimants will be required to register with the Labour Department.
4. Government reserves the right to place individuals receiving Unemployment Assistance in a training or retraining
programme during the period of unemployment.
5. Government also reserves the right to utilize the services of individuals receiving Unemployment Assistance
within the public sector on specified terms.
6. Failure on the part of an individual receiving Unemployment Assistance to accept placement in a position
identified by the Labour Department may result in termination of the Unemployment Assistance
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7. Persons who would not qualify:
a. Self-employed workers who have not contributed to the Social Security Board, Medical Benefits
Scheme and the Board of Education or have not made relevant Personal Income Tax (PIT) payments
for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months (52 weeks)
b. Persons terminated as a result of their own negligence or for cause.
8. How is Unemployment Assistance computed?
a. The daily rate of Unemployment Assistance is 60% of the person’s basic weekly earnings not to exceed
the minimum weekly wage for a typical 40 hour work week. That is to say overtime would not
be considered. It is expected that the assistance to be paid will not exceed $1,200 monthly – that is,
$300 per week.
b. Two or more periods of unemployment which are not separated by more than thirteen (13) weeks
are treated as one continuous period of unemployment starting on the first day of the first period of
unemployment, and the rate of assistance payable for the whole period is the rate payable during the
first period of unemployment.
9. Weekly Earnings
Means the sum of the earnings on which statutory contributions were paid over the continuous period
of the quarter but one before the contribution quarter in which unemployment began or is deemed to
have begun.
10. Payment of Unemployment Assistance
a. Unemployment Assistance is payable for each day of unemployment, excluding Saturdays and Sundays,
as long as unemployment continues, subject to a maximum of 13 weeks in any continuous
period of unemployment; or for an aggregate of 13 weeks in the 52 weeks immediately preceding the
commencement of the current week of unemployment.
b. Unemployment Assistance will be paid by direct deposit to a bank account identified by the individual.
Applicants are therefore required to include their bank information in the application form.
c. Where an individual is found to have made a false statement in his/her application, any assistance
received under the Unemployment Assistance Fund will be immediately terminated, the individual will
be required to refund all sums received, and he/she may be subject to prosecution.
11. Required Documentation
a. Employees will be required to submit a Termination of Services/Lay-off Certificate. This Certificate is
to be completed and stamped by the employer. It will contain information for the computation of the
employees’ Unemployment Assistance.
b. Proof of citizenship, temporary residency, or legal residency
c. A completed Application for Unemployment Assistance Form
d. Proof of registration with the Labour Department
12. Unemployment Assistance will not be paid if the person leaves the country or if they are imprisoned for any
period during the time they have registered for Unemployment Assistance or whenever they are re-employed.
Applicants are required to submit the completed Application Form along with all the supporting documents to:
Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board
Long Street
St. John’s
Antigua 2