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insured, that is
persons who have left insurable employment either permanently or temporarily. The term "contributor" generally means the person who pays or on whose behalf contributions are paid; however, this term may have a different meaning depending upon what system is used for collection of contributions. Where the "payroll system" is used each person figuring on the payrolls submitted in respect of a particular period would count as a contributor irrespective of whether he actually contributed for the whole or only a part of the period concerned. Where the "stamp system "1 is applied, either each contribution book exchanged at the instance of the periodic exchange is counted as a unit, or estimates of the number of "full-year" contributors are made on the basis of stamps sold.
In
It is also convenient to deal under this section with the data on vages provided by social security schemes. Data on wage rates will not be forthcoming from social security schemes but in the case of schemes applying the "payroll system" data on individual wages on which contributions are assessed will be available which may be used both for estimating aggregate wages as well as for providing cross-tabulations of participants with the wage as one of the axes. the case of schemes based on the "stamp system" aggregate wages may be approximately estimated from data relating to sales of stamps in different "wage classes". The aggregate wages so estimated could, for example, aid in the preparation of national accounts. However, it should be noted that under many schemes the insurable wage is subject to a ceiling. Secondly, under some schemes contributions are assessed only on the cash income whereas under others it is the real income (i.e. inclusive of imputed value of income in kind) that forms the basis of contributions.
Statistics on beneficiaries and benefits
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Sickness and maternity cash benefits schemes
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The operation of a sickness cash benefits scheme can generate statistics the number of cases of sickness commencing during a given period and the number of days for which benefit was paid during the period; a distinction is usually made between males and females. A breakdown by age and/or by cause of incapcity may sometimes be provided. More detailed analyses are sometimes made of cases of sickness terminated during a given period, for example, by duration of sickness.
These type of data can be particularly useful for morbidity studies. However, it should be borne in mind that as regards sickness cash benefits, a waiting period in respect of which no benefits are paid is frequently applied, and the longer this period, the greater will be the number of sickness cases of short duration excluded in the statistics. On the other hand, the benefit period is usually limited so that the cases of protracted illness, where the benefit period is exhausted, will not figure in the statistics. The rules and procedures for certification and incapacity for work will also, to some extent, affect the statistics. It should also be noted that in some countries certain diseases, e.g. mental disease, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, etc., are treated at the charge of the public authorities and consequently cases of such diseases may be excluded in the social security
statistics.
As regards maternity cash benefit schemes, the data usually available relate to the number of terminated cases of maternity and the corresponding days of benefit. In countries where vital registration is incomplete, these data, in combination with the data on participants, could provide an indication of the fertility rate. However, payment of maternity benefit is usually subject to a qualifying period, and further, the schemes would in generai be restricted to employed women whose fertility experience may be significantly different from that of the total female population.
Under certain schemes a cash benefit, usually at a flat rate (termed a grant, or a birth grant) is payable in the case of confinement of wives
confinement
1 Under the stamp system, each contributor is issued with a card or booklet designed to receive special adhesive stamps. The employer buys special stamps to be fixed on the cards of his employees, corresponding to the various amounts of joint employer-employee contributions payable in respect of them. amount is affixed to the booklet and franked by the employer vage payment.
A stamp of the correct on each occasion of
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