Sickness



What are Voluntary Contributions?

Voluntary Contributions are weekly cash payments made by insured persons to qualify or to increase both your Retirement Pension and the benefits payable to your survivors.



Who Can Contribute Voluntarily?

You can contribute voluntarily if you:
1. are an insured person under 65 years of age:
2. have paid 50 contributions since the beginning of the Scheme, April 6, 1992;and
3. are no longer working as an employee or as a self-employed persons.

When to Apply?


Apply within 52 weeks after you last worked as an employee or as a self-employed person.



How to Apply?


If you satisfy the conditions required, apply to the National Insurance for a Certificate of Voluntary Insurance.  The form is available at any of our offices.
If your application is accepted, you will receive a Certificate of Voluntary Insurance, which entitles you to make voluntary contributions.
You will be informed of the outcome of your application and if it has been accepted, you will be informed of the amount and the conditions of payment.



How are Payments Made?


Your voluntary contribution payments should be recorded on contribution station form no.007.
The amount for each weekly payment is calculated at 5.5% of your average weekly insurable earnings when you last worked as an employee.  You will be informed of the amount you are required to pay and payments can be made at any National Insurance Office.



What are the Average Insurable Earnings?


The expression “Average Insurable Earnings” for the purpose of this regulation means the sum of the weekly insurable earnings on which contributions were paid or credited in the complete contribution year preceding the week in which the person concerned ceased to be liable to pay a contribution as an employee or self-employed person divided by the number of weeks for which contributions were paid or credited.



What is the Maximum Period Allowed for the Payment of Voluntary Contributions?


The maximum period allowed for the payment of Voluntary Contributions is 12 months.



What Happens if Payments Stop?


Your payments are to be made no later than twelve months from the date the Certificate of Voluntary Insurance is issued.  If your payment is late you will no longer be allowed to continue making voluntary contributions.  You will have to re-qualify.
To be able to pay voluntary contributions again, you must work as an employee or self-employed person and pay at least 50 contributions (one year)



What Do You Do if You Accept a Job While Making Voluntary Contributions?

You must notify the nearest National Insurance Office as soon as possible, if and when you start working as an employee or self-employed person again.  There are three main reasons for this:

a) You will no longer need to make voluntary contributions.
b) Your contributions as an insured person will be based on your earnings.  You and your employer will be required to pay contributions on your behalf as an employee.
c) Your contributions as a self-employed person will be based on your election.



What are The Benefits for a Voluntary Contributor?

a) You may qualify for Retirement Pension or Retirement Grant
b) Your survivors may qualify for Survivors’ Benefit
c) Invalidity Pension
d) Funeral Grant



Appeals

If you are denied the opportunity to pay as a Voluntary Contributor and do not agree with the decision, you should inform the National Insurance Board at once so that your claim may be re-examined.  If you are still not satisfied with the decision, you
have the right to appeal to the National Insurance Appeal Tribunal.



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