Belize

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1979 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance system.

Coverage

Social insurance: Employed persons, including public servants and self-employed persons.

Exclusions: Casual labor, persons employed for less than eight hours a week, military personnel, employees aged 65 or older, and old-age pensioners aged 60 to 64 who return to work.

Voluntary coverage for residents of Belize younger than age 65 who cease to be employed, have paid at least 150 contributions as an employee, and have not previously received an old-age or disability pension.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): Citizens and permanent residents of Belize.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Social insurance: Weekly contributions vary according to eight wage classes:

B$0.83 if weekly earnings are less than B$70;

B$1.35 if B$70 to B$109.99;

B$1.95 if B$110 to B$139.99;

B$3.15 if B$140 to B$179.99;

B$4.75 if B$180 to B$219.99;

B$6.35 if B$220 to B$259.99;

B$7.95 if B$260 to B$299.99; and

B$9.55 if B$300 or greater.

The insured's contributions also finance sickness, maternity, and work injury benefits.

Voluntarily insured persons pay weekly contributions of B$1.76 to B$10.24 for old-age benefits, survivor benefits, and the funeral grant. Contributions are based on the best three years of contributions previously paid.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): None.

Self-employed person

Social insurance: 7% of weekly income of B$55 to B$320.

The self-employed person's contributions also finance sickness, maternity, and work injury benefits.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): None.

Employer

Social insurance: Weekly contributions vary according to eight wage classes:

B$3.57 if weekly earnings are less than B$70;

B$5.85 if B$70 to B$109.99;

B$8.45 if B$110 to B$139.99;

B$9.65 if B$140 to B$179.99;

B$11.25 if B$180 to B$219.99;

B$12.85 if B$220 to B$259.99;

B$14.45 if B$260 to B$299.99; and

B$16.05 if B$300 or greater.

The employer's contributions also finance sickness, maternity, and work injury benefits.

B$2.60 of employer contributions finances work injury benefits only for all wage classes of old-age pensioners aged 60 to 64 who return to work and employees aged 65 or older.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): None.

Government

Social insurance: Contributes as an employer.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): The total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension (social insurance): Age 65 with at least 500 weeks of paid or credited contributions including at least 150 paid contributions. Retirement is not necessary.

Early pension: Age 60 with at least 500 weeks of paid or credited contributions including at least 150 paid contributions. Employment must cease.

Old-age grant (social insurance): Age 60 with at least 26 weeks of paid contributions but does not meet the contribution requirements for an old-age pension.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): Age 67 (men) or age 65 (women) and needy.

Disability pension (social insurance): Younger than age 60 and incapable of work with at least 150 weeks of paid contributions since 1981, including at least 110 paid contributions in the five consecutive years before the year in which the disability began and five paid or credited contributions in the 13 weeks immediately before the week in which the incapacity resulting in the disability began.

A medical board assesses the degree of disability.

Disability grant (social insurance): Younger than age 60 with at least 26 weeks of paid contributions but does not meet the contribution requirements for a disability pension. Must be assessed with a permanent incapacity for work by a medical board.

Survivor pension (social insurance): The deceased received or was entitled to receive an old-age or disability pension at the time of death.

Eligible survivors include a widow who was married to the insured for at least three years and is pregnant with or caring for the deceased's children, is aged 50 or older, or is disabled; a widower who was dependent on the deceased for at least three years; a partner who lived with the deceased for at least five consecutive years; children younger than age 16 (age 21 if a full-time student); and, if there are no other survivors, dependent parents aged 55 or older.

Survivor grant (social insurance): The deceased had at least 26 weeks of paid contributions but did not meet the contribution requirements for an old-age or disability pension.

Eligible survivors include a widow who was married to the insured for at least three years and is pregnant with or caring for the deceased's children, is aged 50 or older, or is disabled; a widower who was dependent on the deceased for at least three years; a partner who lived with the deceased for at least five consecutive years; children younger than age 16 (age 21 if a full-time student); and, if there are no other survivors, dependent parents aged 55 or older.

Funeral grant (social insurance): The deceased had 50 weeks of paid contributions; 150 weeks of paid contributions for the funeral of a spouse or dependent child younger than age 16 (age 21 if a full-time student).

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension (social insurance): The pension is 30% of the insured's average weekly covered earnings plus 2% of average weekly covered earnings for each 50-week period of contributions exceeding 500 weeks up to 750 weeks plus 1% of average weekly covered earnings for every 50-week period of contributions exceeding 750 weeks.

Average weekly covered earnings are based on the best three years of earnings.

Early pension: Calculated in the same way as the old-age pension. The pension is suspended if the insured returns to work before age 65.

The minimum weekly pension is B$47. The pension is paid every four weeks.

The maximum pension is 60% of average weekly covered earnings, up to a weekly maximum of B$192.

Old-age grant (social insurance): A lump sum is paid of six times the insured's average weekly covered earnings multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, or 2.5 times the sum of weekly covered earnings divided by the number of contributions and multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, whichever is greater.

Average weekly covered earnings are based on the best three years of earnings.

The minimum old-age grant is B$800.

Noncontributory old-age pension (social assistance): B$100 a month is paid.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension (social insurance): 30% of the insured's average weekly covered earnings is paid with at least 500 weeks of contributions; 25% with less than 500 weeks of contributions.

Average weekly covered earnings are based on the best three years of earnings.

The minimum weekly pension is B$47. The pension is paid every four weeks.

The maximum weekly pension is 60% of average weekly covered earnings up to B$192.

Disability grant (social insurance): A lump sum is paid of six times the insured's average weekly covered earnings multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, or 2.5 times the sum of weekly covered earnings divided by the number of contributions and multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, whichever is greater.

Average weekly covered earnings are based on the best three years of earnings.

The minimum disability grant is B$800.

Survivor Benefits

Spouse's pension (social insurance): 66.7% of the old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to a widow(er).

Orphan's pension (social insurance): 25% of the old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to each child younger than age 16 (age 21 if a full-time student); 40% if disabled (no age limit and paid for life).

Dependent parent's pension (social insurance): 40% of the old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to a dependent parent aged 55 or older.

The minimum weekly survivor pension is B$47 and is split among eligible survivors. Survivor pensions are paid every four weeks.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive.

Survivor grant (social insurance): A lump sum is paid of six times the sum of the deceased's average weekly covered earnings multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, or 2.5 times the sum of weekly covered earnings divided by the number of contributions and multiplied by the number of 50-week contribution periods, whichever is greater.

Average weekly covered earnings are based on the best three years of earnings.

The minimum survivor grant is B$800.

Survivor benefits may be paid in addition to old-age or disability benefits.

Funeral grant (social insurance): B$1,500 is paid for the insured's death; B$1,000 on the death of a spouse; and B$500 on the death of a dependent child.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Finance provides general supervision.

Social Security Board (http://www.socialsecurity.org.bz) administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1979 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.

Coverage

Employed persons, including public servants and self-employed persons.

Exclusions: Casual labor, persons employed for less than eight hours a week, and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Self-employed person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Government: Contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: Must be currently employed with at least 50 weeks of contributions, including at least five of the 13 weeks before the incapacity began.

Cash maternity benefits: Must have at least 50 weeks of paid contributions, including at least 25 weeks of paid or credited contributions of which 20 must be paid in the 39 weeks immediately before the day on which the benefit is to begin.

Maternity grant: Must have at least 50 weeks of paid contributions, including at least 25 in the 50 weeks before the expected date of childbirth. The grant is paid to an insured woman or to an insured man for his wife or common-law wife.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 80% of average weekly covered earnings is paid for up to 234 days; thereafter, the full benefit may be extended for 156 days and for a further 78 days at 60% of average weekly covered earnings. After 234 days, a disability pension may be paid at the discretion of a medical board. The benefit is paid weekly.

The minimum weekly benefit is B$44.00.

The maximum weekly benefit is B$256.00.

Maternity benefit: 80% of average weekly covered earnings is paid for up to 14 weeks, beginning seven weeks before the expected date of childbirth or the day on which the benefit was claimed. The benefit is paid in two installments: one for the period before childbirth, one for the period after childbirth.

The minimum weekly benefit is B$44.00.

The maximum weekly benefit is B$256.00.

Maternity grant: B$300 is paid for each child.

Workers' Medical Benefits

No statutory benefits are provided.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

No statutory benefits are provided.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Finance provides general supervision.

Social Security Board (http://www.socialsecurity.org.bz) administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1979 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons, including public servants, self-employed persons, and old-age pensioners who return to work.

Exclusions: Casual labor, persons employed for less than eight hours a week, and military personnel.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Self-employed person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Government: Contributes as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period. Accidents that occur while commuting to and from work are covered under certain circumstances.

Temporary Disability Benefits

80% of average weekly covered earnings in the four weeks before the disability began is paid from the first day of incapacity for up to 156 days; thereafter, the benefit may be extended and paid at 60% of average weekly covered earnings for up to 91 days. The benefit is paid weekly.

The minimum weekly benefit for the first 156 days is B$44.00; for the remaining 91 days, B$33.00.

The maximum weekly benefit for the first 156 days is B$256.00; for the remaining 91 days, B$192.00.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: 60% of average weekly covered earnings in the four weeks before the disability began multiplied by the assessed degree of disability is paid.

The minimum weekly pension is B$47. The pension is paid every four weeks.

Constant-attendance allowance: For a total (100%) disability, 25% of the permanent disability pension is paid if the insured requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions.

A medical board assesses and periodically reviews the degree of disability.

Disablement grant: For an assessed degree of disability of less than 25%, a lump sum of average covered earnings in the four weeks before the disability began multiplied by the assessed degree of disability multiplied by 260 is paid.

A medical board assesses the degree of disability.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Benefits include full medical care, including rehabilitation and treatment abroad if recommended by a medical doctor.

Survivor Benefits

Spouse's pension: 66.7% of the permanent disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to a widow(er).

Eligible widow(er)s include a widow who was married to the deceased for at least three years and is pregnant with or caring for the deceased's children, is aged 50 or older, or was totally dependent on the deceased; or a dependent or disabled widower.

A limited pension may be paid to a widow for up to 52 weeks if she does not qualify for a spouse's pension.

The spouse's pension ceases on remarriage.

Orphan's pension: 25% of the permanent disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to each child up to age 16 (age 21 if a full-time student); 40% if disabled.

Dependent parent's pension: If there are no other eligible survivors, 40% of the pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to dependent parents aged 55 or older.

The minimum weekly pension is B$47 and is split among the eligible survivors. Survivor pensions are paid every four weeks.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 60% of the deceased's average covered earnings in the four weeks before the date of the employment injury resulting in the insured's death.

Funeral grant: B$1,500 is paid for the death of the insured.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Finance provides general supervision.

Social Security Board (http://www.socialsecurity.org.bz) administers the program.