Will I lose my Pension?

ANSWER: by Wellesley Gayle
Good day!

Thank you for reaching out with your question. It's great to hear that your mother is healthy at 72, and I understand the concern about whether remarriage would affect her deceased husband’s pension benefits.

Under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in Jamaica, surviving spouses may be eligible to receive a survivor's pension after the death of their spouse. However, the eligibility and conditions for receiving this pension are outlined clearly by the NIS, and remarriage can affect this benefit in certain cases.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Survivor’s Pension Eligibility: If a person is married to a deceased individual who has contributed to the National Insurance Scheme, the surviving spouse may be entitled to a survivor's pension. This is typically the case as long as the surviving spouse is not remarried.
  
  
• Effect of Remarriage: According to NIS regulations, if the surviving spouse remarries, they generally lose eligibility for the survivor's pension. The rule is that the pension benefit is meant to support the surviving spouse after the death of their partner. Once remarriage occurs, the individual is no longer considered a "surviving spouse" in the eyes of the NIS, and therefore, the pension benefit ceases.
  
  However, there are some nuances depending on specific cases, such as whether the remarriage is to someone who also qualifies for pension benefits, or if the remarriage occurs after a certain age. While there are provisions that may allow some flexibility, typically, the remarriage rule is strict.
  
  
• Age Considerations: At 72 years old, it’s worth noting that the general rules on remarriage still apply. The age of remarriage does not exempt a person from the rule, and if your mother remarries, she would most likely lose the deceased husband’s pension. However, the pension itself can still be received until remarriage occurs.
  
  
• Documentation from NIS: The most reliable information on this topic can be found directly from the National Insurance Scheme. You can consult their official website or directly contact NIS for specific legal advice or official documentation. Here is the link to the NIS website for further inquiries. For more detailed regulations or specific circumstances, you may want to go in (if you can) or have a phone consultation with an NIS representative.
  
  By the way, in some cases, if your mother is receiving a pension from another source (such as her own personal pension or another government program), those benefits might remain unaffected by remarriage.
  

So, in conclusion, unless there are specific exceptions related to her circumstances, remarriage would most likely lead to the loss of her deceased husband's pension but I recommend reaching out to NIS directly for the most accurate and specific advice based on your mother’s situation.

I hope this helps clarify the issue for you!

Regards,
WG

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