Voluntary Contributor

To Register:

Registration is completed in person at the any SSB Branch Office.

Required: 

• Must provide a valid Social Security Number.
• Must be in possession of a valid Social Security card indicating that such card is “Valid for Employment”.
• Provide evidence of proof of address in Belize.
• Submission of a list of all past employers by completing an Employment Declaration (ED1 Form)
• Must apply for registration for Voluntary Contributor status within twenty-six (26) contribution weeks after the last day of employment.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be an insured person under 65 years of age; and
• Be ordinarily resident in Belize; and
• No longer be in insurable employment; and
• Have not received a Retirement or Invalidity Benefit from SSB; and
• Have 150 paid contributions on his/her behalf since the start of SSB program ie. June 1, 1981

Upon registration, you are provided with a unique registration number separate to be used for all future transactions and correspondence with the Social Security Board.

Contributions

Weekly Rate of Voluntary Contributions

• The weekly rate of contributions payable is three and one fifth percent (3.2%) of the average weekly insurable earnings at the time the insured person last worked in insurable employment.
• The average weekly insurable earning is the sum of the Insurable earnings in the best three years of contributions in the last fifteen years divided by 150.
• The weekly rate of voluntary contributions may range from a minimum of $1.76 to a maximum of $15.36.  The voluntary insured person’s contribution record will be reviewed and used to determine the weekly contribution rate payable.

Voluntary Contribution Payment

Contributions payable for the month must be paid within 14 days after the end of each month. If you are unable to pay on the due date, you must inform the Chief Executive Officer, who may reconsider and extend to you an additional four weeks in which to pay.

• The First payment cannot be earlier than thirteen (13) contribution weeks prior to the date of application.
• If payments are more than six weeks late, you will need to reapply for Voluntary Insurance and will be required to work for an additional 50 contribution weeks to re-qualify.
• Cease voluntary contribution payments upon attaining sixty-five years.

Benefits

Voluntary Contributions are valid for:

• Retirement Benefit
• Funeral Grant
• Survivors’ Benefit

Contribution payments helps you to qualify or increase your Retirement Benefit or future benefits payables to your survivors. Contributions under the Voluntary Contributor program also helps to prevent any breaks in your contribution history.

Termination of Voluntary Contributions

What Happens if You Return to Work:

• If you should return to work as an employed person, you must inform the Social Security Board
• A permanent closure update of your registration record as a Voluntary Contributor is required.
• Informing SSB helps to avoid paying for periods that you are not earning an income or during which you are working as an employee.

Ending of Voluntary Contributions:

Persons cease to be under the Voluntary Contributor program under these following conditions:

• No longer residing in Belize for a period of 12 months;
• On the date the applicant attains 65 years;
• Or no longer meets the qualifying conditions

How to Re-Qualify:

To re-qualify to pay voluntary contributions, the applicant must:

• Re-apply under the program,
• Meet the qualifying conditions, and
• Have 50 paid contributions as an employed person AFTER the date of cessation.

Other Obligations:

• Check your contributions history yearly.
• Update your personal registration information whenever there is a change.
• Report and present legal, original, and valid documents relating to any change.
• Keep an Accident Book to record details of injuries suffered as a result of and arising from the performance of your declared trade, business or profession.
• Report accidents at work to any Social Security office within twenty-four (24) hours after the accident has occurred.
• Claim a refund of overpaid contributions, when necessary.
• Claim for your benefits within the prescribed deadlines.
• Present all required documents for your claim; this speeds up the process.
• Appeal if you are not satisfied with the decision made regarding the outcome of your benefit claim.