Cannot get an answer from NIS

Dear Editor,

My NIS number is 8-45712-51   I attained the age of sixty on 16th February 2015 and filed for my old age benefit but was awarded an old age grant on 28th April 2015.

I made enquiries at the Pension Inquiry Unit at the NIS office in Brickdam, on 28th April 2015 as to why I was awarded an old age grant and not an old age pension, and I was informed by an officer that some of my contributions were not taken into account to compute my claim since I was contributing to the scheme as a self-employed contributor, and those contributions were regarded as late paid contributions, hence they were not used in the computation.

Subsequently I filed an appeal on 24th April 2015, to the NIS Board against the decision of the General Manager to award me an old age grant; despite the fact that those contributions were late paid I still paid the hefty interest rate and complied with payments.

I received a letter from the Secretary of the NIS Board on the 29th June 2016 which states that my matter was brought before the NIS Board and the late paid contributions were waived and same would be used to review my benefit,

Editor, to this date I have made numerous enquiries at the National Insurance Scheme pension office, and it seems as if my case has become stagnant, since no one can provide a definitive answer as to the current status of my claim.

I made numerous appeals to the Chairman of NIS, Dr Surendra Persaud via email, highlighting my plight, however this proved futile.

I am a pensioner who has suffered a stroke. Recently bandits broke into my home and assaulted me and my wife. It’s unfair to have me visit the NIS office every week to find out on the status of my claim since I am immobile. I implore the relative authorities to address my concerns and bring my matter to a closure, since I cannot work in my current situation and have no other means of financial support.

Yours faithfully,

Shivindra Sahadeo

Editor’s note

We are sending a copy of this letter to the National Insurance Scheme for any comment they might wish to make.