Survivor’s benefits should also be for widowers

There are a couple of questions that I wish to direct to the folks at NIS.

Firstly, why is it that the spectacle allowance remains at $10,000 (per 2 years) and lens repairs is $2000 per lens? Over the years the prices for basic spectacles have skyrocketed ($40,000 to $50,000), so let’s not get started on the cost for spectacles with Transition, Crizal, or other lens. While I know a spectacle allowance is just that - an allowance, NIS really needs to review that age-old $10,000 and increase it to something a little more substantive to maybe a percentage of the cost of spectacles these days. Say 30 or 35 per cent.

Secondly, why is it that only a widow can benefit from survivor’s benefits in the event her spouse dies? This is the 21st century, where both men and women are fighting for equal rights, and in most cases they emerge successful. Women, apart from motherly and wifely duties, have taken up the mantle of being the financial provider in many homes. Some men have even reversed their roles, opting to stay at home and take care of the kids whilst the women work. If NIS would check their records, they will see that a significant amount of women are contributors.

As it is right now, a woman can access survivor’s benefits from NIS if her husband dies, even if she is healthy enough to work and is not disabled. However, but a man cannot have access to such a benefit if his wife dies unless he is proven to be disabled. Why the double standard?

I’m a working woman who takes care of my unemployed husband, because we both made a decision that his small salary couldn’t take care of us so we decided that I would work (since I had the better paying job) and he would take care of the home and our kids. I make my contributions every single month so that I can benefit in my old age. I want to be assured that my husband can benefit from all the contributions that I made in the event I die before him. So, if a healthy widow can access survivor’s benefits, why can’t a healthy widower?

I understand that there are some really outdated rules and regulations when it comes to benefits at NIS and that its staff has to adhere to them. However, I beseech those in authority - especially the Minister of Social Services and the management of NIS - to review and make some changes to these regulations. NIS over the years has been complaining that too many persons are working off the books and have not been making payments. There is a reason for that... the benefits are too little. Come on NIS, sweeten the pot a little.

I am asking the Honourable Minister to please look into these two matters, especially the survivor’s benefits, as I don’t want my husband to suffer in the event I die before him. Will all my contributions over the years then be rendered useless? Yours faithfully,

(Name and address supplied)