Dear Editor,
I, the undersigned pensioner, hereby implore your newspaper to permit me space to highlight the plight I have, for the past two years, been enduring from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
My name is Shivindra Sahadeo, my NIS Number is 8-45712-51, I attained the age of 60 on 16th February 2015, and I filed for my old age benefit and was awarded an old age grant on 28th April, 2015.
On April 28th, 2015, I queried at the Pension Enquiry Unit of the National Insurance Office at Brickdam why I was awarded an old age grant and not an old age pension, and an officer informed me 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 same were not used in computation.
On April 24th, 2015, I filed at the National Insurance Scheme Board an appeal against the decision of the General Manager to award me an Old Age Grant. Despite those contributions being late-paid, I had still endured the hefty interest rate and complied with payments.
On the June 29th, 2076, I received a letter from the Secretary of the National Insurance Scheme Board stating 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, and despite my making numerous enquiries at the National Insurance Scheme’s Pension Office, my case has seemingly become stagnated, since no one can provide me with definite information on the current status of my claim. I made numerous appeals to the Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme, Dr Surendra Persaud, via email, highlighting the plight I am currently enduring to receive my pension, but this action has proved futile.
I am a pensioner. I suffered a stroke. Recently, bandits broke into my home and assaulted me and my wife. It is unfair that I have to visit the NIS office every week to find out the status of my claim. I implore the relevant authorities to address my concern and bring closure to my matter, since my current medical situation precludes me from working, and I have no other means of financial support.
Sincerely,
Shivindra Sahadeo
