91.
appropriate population groups of the total population, will indicate the scope of protection available against the contingency, while the average amount of the pension would give an indication of the level of protection available. The number of deaths giving rise to benefit when related to data on participants may give an indication of the mortality rate and thus may be particularly useful in countries with inadequate vital registration.
In interpreting and using these statistics, characteristics of the schemes must be borne in mind.
however, the following
As regards old-age pensions, the retirment age varies from scheme to scheme, and also within the same scheme different ages may be applicable to different groups of persons protected, for example, а lower age is usually applied for arduous occupations. Furthermore, the eligibility to benefit after the attainment of the pensionable age may be subject to a retirement test. Also substantially long qualifying periods are usually applied.
As regards invalidity benefit, the definition of invalidity may vary between schemes, for example, depending upon whether the concept of physical invalidity or cccupational invalidity is applied. Furthermore, the rules and procedures for assessment of invalidity has an effect. It should also be noted that under some schemes, invalidity pensions are converted into old-age pensions on attainment of the pensionable age and consequently classified under that heading in the statistics, whereas under other schemes, the invalidity pensioners are qualified as such until exit on account of death (or reactivation).
Also, for survivors' pensions, the qualifying conditions affect substantially the statistics. Thus, for example, widows' pensions may be conditional on duration of marriage, age of widow, support of children, etc. A widow's pension is usually suspended or discontinued on remarriage. Orphans' pensions cease on the attainment of a specified a ge
which may be prolonged in respect of studies, apprenticeship,
etc.
(iv)
Employment injury benefit
The statistics resulting from employment injury benefit schemes are usually the following:
number of accidents terminating
in a given period analysed according to consequences (recovery after medical care only, recovery after temporary incapcity, attainment of permanent incapacity, death) and by group of economic activity;
statistics relating to medical care provided to employment injury victims;
statistics relating to temporary incapacity benefit cases terminating in the period - number of cases as well as corresponding number of benefit days;
awards of permanent incapacity benefit during the given pericd analysed by degree of incapacity, with an indication of the rate (for pensions) or amcunt
(lump suns) of the benefit;
awards of survivors' benefit during the period, with indication of the rate cr amount of benefit; in the case of pensions, analysed by type of beneficiary
(widow, orphan, other);
(for schemes granting pensions only) number of pensions current at a given date, by age and type of beneficiary (permanent incapacity, pensioner, widow, orphan, other beneficiary);
number of accidents analysed according to cause, location and nature of injury and branch of economic activity.
It is clear that the above statistics can be of great value in assessing the extent and gravity of employment injuries, as well as the scope and level of protection awarded to victims of employment injury. The statistics, especially those mentioned last, may also be useful to plan the measures necessary for preventing or reducing industrial accidents. However, in the interpretation of 'statistics cognisance should be taken of the fact that the definition of employment
the
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