Minister touts no more old age pension for overseas-based Guyanese

Jul 07, 2016 News

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…money should go to elderly living here

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence,  has reaffirmed that the Ministry ‘s position on ensuring that Guyanese living abroad no longer access the country ‘s old age pension scheme.

Commenting on the issue yesterday, the Minister noted that the old age pension scheme has been a subject of abuse particularly for Guyanese living overseas.

“When persons not living in Guyana access pension from both the Guyana government and the country in which they live; it is unfair especially for elderly persons living here,” she said.

Lawrence said that recently the old age pension scheme grew as a host of overseas-based Guyanese, who had returned for 50^th Independence Anniversary celebrations took advantage to draw down the monies.

“These persons are looking to benefit both places; we can’t tolerate the double dipping. Persons who believe that it is their right to live in a foreign country and collect their pensions here…” the Minister stressed.

Lawrence explained that the Ministry has already taken steps to purge the old age pension scheme of persons, from the fraudsters particularly overseas- based Guyanese who “double dip.”

According to Lawrence, the government plans to increase the limit of the old age pension scheme.  However she explained that the money currently being accessed by some overseas-based pensioners can be used to boost the benefits for elderly persons living in Guyana.

The monthly pension which stands at just over $18,000 can be increased to $20,000 or more, Lawrence added.

The issue came to the fore after staff of the Ministry were advised they will be held responsible and surcharged for books knowingly issued to persons who do not live in Guyana.
Since the announcement by Minister Lawrence earlier this week, the issue has been the source of debate.

However Lawrence pointed out that the old age pension should not be confused with National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Government Pensions.

The Minister said that she wholly supports the citizens receiving the benefits they laboured for but reiterated that “persons desirous of accessing old age pension will have to be living in Guyana for a minimum of two years.”

The Ministry of Social Protection also sent out a statement yesterday outlining the difference between Old Age Pension Scheme the Government Pension and that which is being offered by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The Ministry of Social Protection clarified that  Old Age Pension is not an entitlement from employment, as in the case of Government Pension and National Insurance Scheme Pension, but rather Old Age Pension is a monthly payment ($18,200 at present) available to eligible Guyanese aged 65 or older.

According to the statement it is provided for under the Old Age Pension Act (Chapter 36:03), which clearly states that applicants must meet certain statutory conditions to qualify for Old Age Pension.

These statutory conditions are that the person must have attained the age of 65 years; must satisfy the appropriate authority that he has been a citizen of Guyana for at least ten years immediately preceding his claim for a pension and the person must have been ordinarily resident in Guyana during the 20 years immediately preceding his claim for pension.

“In the event that the person is temporarily absent from Guyana, the applicant or pensioner must satisfy the Authority, usually through the provision of the person’s passport and an immigration check conducted by the Ministry, that the period of absence from Guyana has not exceeded two years during the past 20 years, according to law.”

Additionally, persons receiving Old Age Pension may become ineligible if that person is a resident in a charitable institution that provides board and lodging; is in prison or has migrated.

“It is in this context that Volda Lawrence, Minister of Social Protection has sought to reinforce the laws, stating that persons, whether they worked in Guyana or not, who are now living overseas are ineligible for Old Age Pension in Guyana.”

The Ministry of Social Protection therefore reiterated that persons will only be eligible for Old Age Pension if they satisfy the age, citizenry and residency requirements.

“The current policy that both the previous and current government have followed to date dictates that persons applying for Old Age Pension must have been living in Guyana for at least two years preceding their application.”

The statement outlined that it is precisely this approach that was highlighted by the recently conducted audit as erroneous, since the law actually prescribes that the Old Age Pension applicant “must have been ordinarily resident in Guyana during the twenty years immediately preceding his [her] claim for pension.”

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