Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda’s Social Security Scheme is now in its strongest financial position in years, with all outstanding pension and benefit payments up to date as of December and January.

Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne rejected claims circulating online that pensioners are not being paid. “I got an update from the Director of Social Security a couple days ago,” he said. “All pension payments and all outstanding benefits have been paid up to about December–January of this year.”

He clarified that only recent applicants—those who have just qualified for benefits—are still being processed. “Whereas we may have had some individuals who were waiting for a year or two, we don’t have that kind of backlog anymore,” he added.

Browne also pointed out that delays in recent payouts are not due to lack of funds but rather the processing time required to handle the high volume of cases. “Social Security now has over $20 million on deposit,” he said. “It’s not because they don’t have the money—they do.”

Comparing the current state of the scheme to the United Progressive Party (UPP) years, Browne said his administration inherited significant arrears. “The UPP did nothing for employees. They allowed Social Security to languish,” he said. “We had to supplement the fund, even during COVID, with more than $3 million monthly in premiums just to ensure they could meet obligations.”

Browne emphasized that his government has consistently supported the scheme and is working to maintain its stability. “We didn’t want beneficiaries to suffer. We stepped in to make sure Social Security could deliver,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the pension system, but he insists that the financial outlook has never been better.