Social Security announces gold card project
Today the Social Security Board came face to face with the Belizean press as it presented its reform packages. One reform that should be clearly visible is that senior citizens, 65 years and older, will be handed a gold card. Social Security says the card will allow senior citizens to receive a number of discounts from various businesses.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The senior citizens card is the result of the Social Security Board’s “Our Golden Citizens Project”. The idea came from SSB’s management and staff in celebration of their 19th anniversary on June 1st. General Manager for SSB, Narda Garcia says the projects’ goal is to enhance pensioners financial benefits and give them the recognition as pioneers of Social Security.
Narda Garcia, General Manager, SSB
“That we felt that Social Security in enhancing its image also and in taking responsibility because these people have contributed to the scheme and we believe that we should be doing something for that whole sector of the population.”
Presently, the benefits of the gold card have not been finalized and the business sector is being encouraged to assist in the project. Garcia says most businesses they’ve approached have been receptive to the idea and believes in the end it will be an attractive package for senior citizens.
Narda Garcia
“What we are trying to do, Jackie is to get the support of other businesses in general. For example the utility companies businesses like supermarkets, hardware stores, transportation companies also drug stores. We also want to rope in the doctors, physicians, private clinics for example and what we want to do is to give our golden citizens, people over the age of 65, a discount on all the services that they will access to and all the utilities that they will access, transportation for example.”
SSB is hoping to get a 15 to 20% discount on services for senior citizens.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Board urges everyone who has not applied for a new card to do so, especially those persons who are seeking employment. According to SSB, it will be illegal for any employer to make contributions for an employee who is not registered. The board says so far, 80,000 people have registered for the new social security card. Presently the cards are being prepared and should be ready for distribution in July.
