Our History

Established on June 01, 1981, Social Security Board is a member of the International Social Security Association based in Geneva, Switzerland. In April 1987, it became a member of the Comite Permanente Interamericano de Seguridad Social, Mexico (C.P.I.S.S.) and in February, 1994 joined COCISS – Consejo Centroamericano de Instituciones De Seguridad Social. This organization was later renamed CISSCAD – Consejo de Instituciones de Seguridad Social en Centro America y Republica Dominicana for which the Social Security Board held the presidency for two years.

The Fund pays benefits on behalf of all Insured Members, who are employees fourteen years and over, from “the womb to the tomb”. Maternity Benefits are paid to pregnant women who qualify, and Funeral Grant is paid to the survivors of a deceased insured person who qualifies for the benefit. These are only two examples of the benefits being paid.

In accordance with Section 2 of the Social Security Act, Chapter 44 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020, the contributors to the Fund are employed persons over the age of fourteen (14) years. It is the employee’s responsibility to register with Social Security. Statutory Instrument No. 106 of 1999, states that “an employer shall not employ a person who has not been registered under the Act.” “Employer” means any person who employs or any person(s) who employs on behalf of another.

In “Message from the Prime Minister”, in the 1981 Annual Report of the Social Security Board, the Rt. Honorable George C. Price said:

“… Social Security is but the beginning of developing the proper attitudes of responsibility for older or injured citizens, so that we become conscious of the human and social obligations, which the economy must strive to meet. ”