Benefits and Entitlements - Dependency

Last update: 11 November 2005

Assignment grant

"Is my newly-born child entitled to assignment grant?"

  • Yes, upon arrival at the duty station on return from Maternity or Paternity Leave, the JPO Service Centre will send authorisation to the Field Office to pay 30 days half rate DSA (rate applicable: month of arrival date at the duty station). If child was born at the duty station, the 30 days half-rate DSA will be paid as of the date of birth (rate applicable: DOB month).

 

Dependency allowance

"How can I claim dependency allowance for my spouse? Am I eligible?"

  • A dependent spouse of a staff member as defined in the Staff Rules is a spouse:
    • who has no occupational earnings, or
    • who receives pension benefits (pension benefits of spouses are not considered as occupational earnings), or
    • whose gross occupational earnings (gross before tax), do not exceed the approximate equivalent of the lowest entry level of the United Nations General Service gross salary scale in effect on 1 January of the year concerned, for the duty station in the country of the spouse's place of work. In any case, the amount shall not at any duty station be less than the equivalent of the lowest level at the base of the salary system (i.e., G-2, Step I, for New York, USD 31,822 per annum).


  • Staff will receive a dependency benefit in the form of salary and post adjustment at the dependency rates. The amount of this benefit is the difference between salary and post adjustment at the single rate and salary and post adjustment at the dependency rate.

 

"My spouse is not a dependant. I have had a child for whom I claimed dependency allowance and my salary still does not show the allowance."

  • Staff whose spouse is not a dependant, will receive a dependency benefit in respect of the first dependent child (i.e., the child would replace the spouse, would he/she have been a dependant). The dependency benefit is reflected in the form of salary and post adjustment at the dependency rates. The amount of this benefit is the difference between salary and post adjustment at the single rate and salary and post adjustment at the dependency rate.

 

"How much is the dependency allowance for each child?"

  • USD 1,936 per year.

 

"My spouse is working prior to our arrival at the duty station when I take up my assignment. However, he/she will not have a job at the duty station. Will I be entitled to dependency benefits?"

  • Only if your spouse earned during the fiscal year of your Entry Of Duty less than the minimum required by the UN for the spouse to be a dependant (see above).


  • If your spouse already earned the minimum amount during the year, you would not be entitled to dependency benefits. If he/she does not work next year, you can claim dependency benefits on 1 January and submit a P.84 formular.

 

"I support my mother. Do I receive any benefits in her respect? Can I claim dependency benefits?"

  • Yes and under these conditions: a secondary dependant is defined by the UN as the father, mother, brother or sister of whose total financial support the staff member provides one half or more, and in any case at least twice the amount of the secondary dependency allowance, i.e., the staff member must be the major provider of the dependant's support. If the dependant has an income or other sources of support, including pension, the staff member must at least match or exceed the total amount of the revenues in order to meet the criteria of providing one-half or more of the financial support.


  • This allowance is payable in respect of only one secondary dependant. However, a staff member who receives a dependency allowance in respect of a spouse is not eligible for secondary dependant allowance.

 

"How do I claim dependency allowance in respect of my mother?"

  • A secondary dependant is defined by the UN as the father, mother, brother or sister of whose total financial support the staff member provides one half or more, and in any case at least twice the amount of the secondary dependency allowance, i.e., the staff member must be the major provider of the dependant's support. If the dependant has an income or other sources of support, including pension, the staff member must at least match or exceed the total amount of the revenues in order to meet the criteria of providing one-half or more of the financial support.


  • This allowance is payable in respect of only one secondary dependant. However, a staff member who receives a dependency allowance in respect of a spouse is not eligible for secondary dependant allowance.


  • If above conditions are met, staff members who wish to claim the secondary dependant allowance for the first time should submit the following documentation:
    • completed Questionnaire on Dependency Allowance (P.84);
    • birth certificate of dependant or certified copy of an identification card or relevant passport pages;
    • notarised statement or affidavit of support from the dependant, regarding monies received from the staff member, evidence of income and/or place of residence and indication of the date such support began;
    • proof of financial support, e.g. cancelled cheques, money orders, etc.;
    • if the dependant resides with the staff member, an affidavit attesting to this fact;
    • in the case of an unmarried brother or sister between the ages of 18 and 21, a school certificate of full-time attendance for that period.

 

Education grant

"When am I entitled to Education Grant in respect of my child?"

  • The education grant may be payable from the age of 5 (if child reaches the age of 5 within the first three months from the start of the school year) up to the end of the fourth year of post-secondary studies or the award of a recognized first level degree, whichever is earlier, subject to a maximum age limit of 25 years.

 

"Do I get paid for all the expenses I paid to the school?"

  • No, the grant consists of partial reimbursement of expenses for tuition as well as board and lodging if the child is not residing with the staff member at the duty station, when a dependent child who is in full-time school attendance at a school, university or similar educational institution.


  • Under the grant's provisions, 75 per cent of allowable costs are payable within an overall ceiling. No grant is payable if attendance is not full-time.

 

"How do I know if I am eligible to an education grant?"

  • The grant is payable in respect of a dependent child:
    • who is in full-time attendance at a school, university or similar educational institution,
    • from the beginning of the primary level (or when child is 5 within the first three months of beginning of the school year) up to the day on which the child ceases full-time attendance at an educational institution or the end of the school year in which the child completes the fourth year of post-secondary studies or is awarded the first recognized degree, whichever is the earlier.


  • The grant is not normally payable beyond the end of the school year in which the child reaches the age of 25, unless the child's education has been interrupted for more than one year by illness or by a period of national/military service.

 

" I have to pay my child's fees in advance, does UNDP provides me with the money to pay the school fees?"

  • Yes, if you are entitled to the education grant (as per above) and are required to pay all or portion of the school fees at the beginning of the school year, you may apply for an advance against your entitlement.


  • Requests for an advance against the education grant may be submitted prior to or within two months after the beginning of the current school year or within two months of the child's first day of attendance (i.e., in cases when the staff member is assigned/reassigned to a duty station after the beginning of the school year), submitting a completed form P.45 and a letter from the school attesting to the cost of the fees.

 

"I received an advance last year, could you process the advance for this year since I have to pay the school two months in advance?"

  • We cannot process the advance for this year unless you submit a claim for the previous school year, (i.e., form P.45 and P.41 signed/dated/stamped by the school). You may complete only one form P.45 for the claim and the advance but remember that the request for the advance should be presented together with the claim for the previous year.

 

"Why is it that the education grant advance I received last year for my child was withdrawn?"

  • You must submit a claim (see question above) four months after the end of the school year as a proof that your child indeed attended the school on a full-time basis and you paid the school in its entirety.

 

Travel

"My spouse is not a dependant. Will UNDP pay for my spouse's travel and shipment?"

  • Yes. UNDP will pay for initial appointment, home leave and/or repatriation travel and shipment even if she/he is not a dependent spouse.

 

"I am going to take up a new assignment and my spouse is joining me at the duty station in a few months. Am I entitled to any grants in his/her respect?"

  • Yes:
    • Travel/shipment will be authorized for your spouse.
    • DSA will also be paid upon your spouse's arrival at the duty station.
    • Dependency benefits will also be paid as of EOD if there is proof that he/she is dependent on you.

 

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