PENSIONS SUPPLEMENT

What is it? | Basic qualifying condition | How much could I get and how am I paid? | How and when should I apply?

Claim form	Request one by filling in our online form
Tel :	01624 685176
E-mail :	pensions@socialsecurity.dhss.gov.im

What is it?

The purpose of the Pension Supplement is to provide an increase to the basic Retirement Pension and some other long-term benefits so that the Isle of Man rate is 50% higher than in the UK.

Although this is done by the provision of a separate benefit - the Pension Supplement - the basic Retirement Pension (or other qualifying benefit) plus Supplement should be regarded as an Isle of Man benefit rate.

There is no equivalent to this increase in the UK. For this reason, entitlement depends upon having contributed to the Isle of Man National Insurance Scheme for a minimum number of years.

Basic qualifying condition

To qualify for the payment of the Supplement, the following conditions need to be satisfied.

You must

be ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man
have attained the age of 45
be entitled or treated as entitled to a qualifying benefit from the Department
have paid relevant contributions in the Isle of Man for at least 10 years or have paid relevant contributions for at least 5 years and was paying relevant Class 1 or Class 2 contributions immediately prior to an award of Incapacity Benefit.

Transitional protection for persons resident on the Island on 5^th April 1999 permits Isle of Man contribution credits to count towards the ten year period up to that date.

Qualifying Benefits

You must be receiving one of the following benefits or pensions from the Department:

Category A or B basic Retirement Pension,
Widowed Parent's Allowance,
Long-term Incapacity Benefit and (for new claims after 6th April 2008) the higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance,
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (where that benefit is payable at the long-term Incapacity Benefit rate),
Widowed Mother's Allowance (transitionally protected cases),
Widow's Pension (transitionally protected cases).

Contributions

You are required to have paid full rate contributions as an employed, self-employed or non-employed person for ten contribution years in the Isle of Man prior to attaining pension age. Reduced rate contributions paid by certain married women and widows do not count.

For a year to count as one of the ten years, the contributions paid in that year must be of a sufficient level for the year to count as a qualifying year for Retirement Pension purposes. The level is defined and changes each year.

How much could I get and how am I paid?

If you receive the full standard rate of basic Pension or Allowance, the Supplement is paid at 50% of that basic rate. If you qualify for reduced rates of Pension or Allowance the Supplement will be paid at an equivalent reduced rate.

If you receive long-term incapacity benefit or short-term incapacity benefit payable at the long-term rate, the rate of the supplement is fixed.

How and when should I apply?

There is no requirement for a separate claim to be made for the Supplement. Entitlement will be considered at the same time as entitlement to the qualifying pension or benefit is being considered.

If you would like more information on the Pension Supplement, please download the documents below.

Downloadable Documents