The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1964, Page 33

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
31
man is eligible only if her husband
cannot support her. The maternity
grant goes to every mother who is a
citizen or an alien covered by a reci-
procal agreement. It is necessary to be
a member of a sick club to receive
medical benefits.
The Ministry of Social Affairs
exercises general supervision over Ice-
land’s health and maternity insurance.
The sick club, in which membership
is compulsory, administers the benefits
under the supervision of the district
clubs and State Social Security Insti-
tution.
Family Allowance began 17 year ago
Iceland has had Family Allowances
since 1946, applicable to all citizens
and to aliens covered by reciprocal
agreements, with two or more children.
To sustain the fund for this, residents
contribute 531 to 1,000 crowns a year,
according to marital status and size of
community. The aggregate of these
contributions covers 33 per cent of the
cost. The employer pays flat amounts
per employee, also according to mar-
ital status and size of community. This
covers 15 per cent of cost. The national
government provides subsidies cover-
ing 52 per cent of the cost. As has been
previously noted these contributions
also finance pensions and maternity
grants.
In towns the family allowance
mounts to 732 crowns a year for the
second child, 1,098 crowns for the third
child, and 2,196 crowns for the fourth
and each other child under the age of
16. In rural areas 549 crowns is paid
lor the second child, 824 crowns for the
third child, and 1,647 for the fourth
and each other child below 16. These
amounts similarly vary with changes
in the cost-of-living index.
Seamen were covered for work in-
juries’ insurance under a law passed
in 1909. The first general law of this
nature was passed in 1925, and a law
of 1956 is currently in force. It applies
to all employed persons, including
public employees, share fishermen, and
specified self-employed seamen. Ex-
cluded is non-hazardous casual em-
ployment. The employer is the exclus-
ive source of funds through compul-
sory contributions which vary with the
risk. There are special contributions
for seamen and chauffeurs.
Benefits for the worker amount to
27.45 crowns a day for temporary dis-
ability, or 32.95 crowns for a couple,
supplemented by 6.40 crowns a day
for each of the first three ahildren, the
amounts varying with cost-of-living
changes. The maximum benefit is 75
per cent of earnings, and there is a
waiting period of seven days.
Permanent Di ability
Paid As Fixed Sum
In cases of permanent disability
8,564 crowns a year is paid for a single
insured worker and 13,702 crowns for
a couple, supplemented by 4,392
crowns a year for each child. For par-
tial permanent disability a pension is
paid proportionate to the wage loss
for 50 to 74 per cent disability and a
lumj) sum for 15 to 49 per cent disabil-
ity. All payments take into consider-
ation changes in the cost-of-living
index.
All necessary medical care is funish-
ed such disabled workers, including
specialist service and hospitalization.
There are generous survivors’ ben-
efits under this class of insurance. A
pension of up to 8,564 crowns a year
is paid to a widow or widower of over
50 years of age or at least 50 per cent
disabled, the amount varying accord-
ing to specific age and degree of dis-
ability. Otherwise a lump sum of about
two years pension is paid. The sum