A Quick Guide to Social Security in Jersey
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A Quick Guide to Social Security in Jersey.pdf
Part One - What is Social Security?
Back to Top Most countries have some kind of social security system. By paying money into a central fund people can make sure they will get help when they need it.
In Jersey, the Social Security Scheme is paid for by social security contributions topped up by taxes. Most people have to pay social security contributions.
Part Two - What are benefits?
Back to Top The kinds of help you can get in times of need are known as “benefits”. There are different kinds of benefit. For example - benefits paid when you are not able to work because you are ill or have had an accident, on widowhood or at pension age. There are also benefits when you have a baby or on death. These are “contributory” benefits. That means that you must have paid social security contributions to get them.
There are other benefits that do not rely on contributions. These benefits are called “non contributory” benefits. They include allowances for adults and children who have a disability; a disability transport allowance; and an allowance paid to carers who look after a person in receipt of Attendance Allowance.
The Jersey Health Scheme also provides benefits by way of reduced doctors’ and prescription fees. (See Part Six).
For further information on benefits, call at the Social Security Department in La Motte Street, St Helier. The staff will be happy to answer your questions.
Part Three - When do I register?
Back to Top Everyone in Jersey who is over school leaving age should register with us. If you are living in Jersey you must register when:
- you reach 18; or
- you start to work for an employer; or
- you have been in the Island for 6 months and are over 18
Part Four - Your Social Security Registration Card
Back to Top When you find a job you have to register with us. You will be given a registration card. This has your name and personal social security number on it. You must give the card to your employer immediately. They cannot pay you wages until they have it. Please keep a note of the number somewhere safe. You will need it when claiming benefit.
A blue and white registration card means that you are liable to pay contributions. A percentage of your wages will be deducted by your employer. This percentage is 6.0%.
A red and white registration card shows that you are not liable to pay contributions and they will not be deducted from your wages.
Part Five - If you are self-employed, non-employed or unemployed
Back to Top Self-Employed or Non-employed
Class 2 contributions are monthly amounts paid to the Department every quarter, in arrears. You should call at the Contributions Zone if you are in any doubt about your personal liability.
Unemployed
If you are over 18 and have lived and worked in Jersey for at least one full year you may be able to register as unemployed. An appointment will be made for you to talk to an Advisor. Jersey does not pay unemployment benefit but you may qualify to have your social security contributions covered with unemployment credits.
Part Six - Your Health Benefits Card
Back to Top To be eligible for a Health Benefit Card you must be resident or gainfully employed in the Island, and paid the appropriate social security contributions, for a qualifying period of six months. If you do not have to pay contributions, then you will still have to wait six months before you make a claim.
Please note: You may be required to produce proof of your residency.
Visitors to the Island and residents who have lived on the Island for less than 6 months do not qualify for subsidy under the Health Scheme and so may be required to pay for hospital treatment, doctor’s fees and prescription costs in full.
If you wish to see a general practitioner you should telephone 616833 and you will be given the name and address of the rota surgery.
A charge may be made for your visit and for any prescriptions you require. Please check when you make an appointment.
Part Seven - Change in circumstances
Back to Top Changing address
Please tell us your new address when you move home. This can be done by either calling into the Department, by telephone or in writing. Please remember to tell us your Social Security number. If you do not know it, please tell us your full name and date of birth.
Leaving the Island
If you are leaving the Island please return your registration and health cards to us and tell us the date of your departure.
Changing marital status
It is important to tell us when you marry, separate, divorce or are widowed. You may be entitled to elect not to pay contributions or to claim a benefit. It is helpful to see the relevant certificate i.e. marriage, decree absolute, etc.
Part Eight - If you are ill or have an accident
Back to Top If you are unfit for work and a doctor gives you a medical certificate please fill it in and either give it to your employer or send it to us as soon as possible.
You can get benefit if you have paid enough contributions and satisfy certain criteria.
Contributions paid in another country
It may be possible to use the Contributions you have paid in some other countries to claim Jersey Benefit.
As soon as you become ill or have an accident send us your medical certificate and tell us if you have paid contributions in another country. We will check to see if you qualify for benefit in Jersey.
Part Nine - Credited Contributions
Back to Top Sometimes when you are not working you can be credited with contributions instead of having to pay them.
Incapacity - if you are sending in medical certificates to us you may be entitled to benefit credits.
Unemployment - depending on the circumstances surrounding the loss of your job and the length of time you were working, you may be entitled to unemployment credits. To register as unemployed please call at the Department.
Studentship - you may qualify for student credits if you are a Jersey resident who is 18 or over and in full-time education. To find out more please contact the Department or pick up the leaflet entitled Students Over 18
Home Responsibility - if you stay at home to look after a child who is under the age of 5 you may qualify for Home Responsibility Credits. To apply for these credits please contact the Department.
Home Responsibility credits protect your pension entitlement. They do not give entitlement to incapacity or maternity benefits.
Credits can help you get benefits but you cannot qualify for benefits unless you have paid some contributions as well.
Part Ten - What happens if I stop work or have low earnings?
Back to Top You will receive a Statement of Contributions Notice. The statement tells you that a gap will occur in your contribution record unless you take some action at once. Contact us to talk about what has caused the gap. Our staff will be happy to advise you on what steps you should take either to sort out the gap or prevent it from happening again.
Part Eleven - I have a disability - can I get help?
Back to Top We can help people with a disability prepare for and find a suitable job. Also there are benefits that you may be able to claim - see Part 2. Please contact us. Our staff will be happy to advise you.
Part Twelve - Further Information
Back to Top This leaflet gives general information and does not try to give full details on any particular matter. It cannot be treated as a statement of the Law.
Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions about the information contained in this leaflet.
Our staff are here to help you, please telephone us on 445505 or call into our office.
If you become unemployed you may wish to visit our website www.jobsinjersey.gov.je and search for current vacancies online.
Please note: calls to the Department may be monitored for training purposes.
Other leaflets that may be of interest. Please click once on the highlighted text to view the leaflet.
General
Family Zone
Health Zone
Pension Zone
Work and Contribution Zone
Health and Safety
Leaflets on health and safety matters are available from the Health and Safety Inspectorate - telephone 447300.
Large print versions of most of our leaflets are available. Please call us on 445505 and we will be happy to send them to you.
