32.02
*See Note on page 3

L.R.O.

Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised
(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–4 ..
5–8 ..
9–10 ..
11–22 ..

6 of 1991
51/1992

22 of 1993
24 of 1996
9 of 1997
35 of 1998
8 of 1999
91 of 2000
2 of 2003
21 of 2005
*17 of 2007
*30 of 2007
*1 of 2009
*6 of 2010
13 of 2010
*2 of 2012
*289/2014

19 of 1951
37 of 1951
4 of 1952
5 of 1954
10 of 1958
32 of 1960
40 of 1961
11 of 1964
55 of 1970
18 of 1974
4 of 1975
12 of 1976
18 of 1981
2 of 1982
15/1987
9 of 1990

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION ACT
CHAPTER 32:02

Act
15 of 1939
Amended by

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Index of Subsidiary Legislation
Page

Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations (GN 94/1954) … … … 11

Note on Validation
Section 15 of Act No. 9 of 1990 provides as follows:

15. (1) Where before the passing of this Act (i.e., 26th April 1990) the Ministry
with responsibility for social services purported to make payments of old age
pensions in amounts not authorised by the Old Age Pensions Act and of Food
Subsidy which were not authorised by any written law, such payments are
deemed to have been lawfully made.
(2) No legal proceedings or other action of any kind shall be entertained in
respect or in consequence of such payment as is referred to in subsection (1).”.

Note on section 7
Act No. 24 of 1996 deleted section 7(2) and renumbered section 7(1) as section 7.
Section 5 of Act No. 8 of 1999 provided as follows:
“5. The Act is amended in section 7 by inserting after subsection (2) the following
subsection:

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Minister may by Regulations
prescribe the procedure for the preparation and payment of pensions, and nominate
any department, statutory authority or any other entity in which the State has an
interest for the performance of such functions on behalf of the Director.”.

Since section 7(2) has been deleted by Act No. 24 of 1996, the latter part of the amendment
to section 7 by Act No. 8 of 1999 has been incorporated in paragraph (a), and the former part
has been inserted as paragraph (ee), of section 10.

Note on Old Age Pensions (Amendment) Regulations, 1997
Paragraph (i) was added to section 10 in order to give effect to regulation 17 of the Old Age
Pensions (Amendment) Regulations, 1997, which was published in the Gazette (as LN 184/1997)
on 25th August 1997 of the Old Age Pensions (Amendment) Regulations, 1997.
Regulation 17 reads as follows:

17. Every form prescribed by the Minister or approved by the Board in
accordance with the Act immediately before the coming into operation of these
Regulations, shall remain in force or be used with such modifications as may be
necessary until replaced in accordance with the Act.”.

“Validation
of payments
of increases
of old age
pensions
and Food
Subsidy.

2 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

“Forms:

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Note on Act No. 17 of 2007
See section 25 of Act No. 17 of 2007 with respect to the application of this Act.

Note on Act No. 30 of 2007
By section 2 of Act No. 30 of 2007 increases in the payment of grants under section 3 are to
take effect from 1st October 2007.

Note on Act No. 1 of 2009
Amendments to section 3 made by Act No. 1 of 2009 took effect from 1st October 2008.

Note on Act No. 6 of 2010
(1) Validation of Payment

Section 3 of Act No. 6 of 2010 reads as follows:
3. Any increase in the grant paid by the Board to any person eligible to have

received the Senior Citizens’ Grant from 1st May 2010 to 31st August 2010 is
hereby validated.”.

(2) Adaptation
Under paragraph (p) of section 16 of the Law Revision Act (Ch. 3:03), the Commission
amended all references to the word “grant” appearing in the Regulations so as to bring these
provisions in conformity with the Act.

Note on Act No. 2 of 2012
Amendments made to section 3 by Act No. 2 of 2012 took effect from 1st February 2012.

Note on Legal Notice No. 289/2014
The amendments made to the Schedule of this Act by LN 289/2014 took effect from
1st October 2014.

Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 3

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

“Validation
of payment.

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CHAPTER 32:02

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Provisions for payment of pension.
3A. Payment of pension in certain circumstances.
4. Eligibility for pension.
5. Calculation of means.
6. Determination of claims.
7. Date on which pension commences to accrue and method of

payment.
8. Pension not assignable.
8A. Recovery of overpayment.
9. Penalty for furnishing false information.
10. Regulations.

SCHEDULE.

4 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

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MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 5

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

1950 Ed.
Ch. 13. No. 2.
15 of 1939.
17 of 2007.
6 of 2010.
Commencement.

Short title.
[17 of 2007
6 of 2010
13 of 2010].
Interpretation.
[19 of 1951
40 of 1961
12 of 1976
24 of 1996
17 of 2007
6 of 2010
13 of 2010].
Ch. 18:01.
Ch. 32:03.

Provisions for
payment of
pension.
[17 of 2007
30 of 2007
1 of 2009
6 of 2010
13 of 2010].

CHAPTER 32:02

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION ACT
An Act to provide for the Senior Citizens’ Pension.

[1ST JULY 1939]
1. This Act may be cited as the Senior Citizens’ Pension Act.

2. (1) In this Act—
“citizen” has the meaning assigned to it in the Immigration Act;
“Director (Social Welfare)” means the Director (Social Welfare)

referred to in section 4 of the Public Assistance Act;
“Local Public Assistance District” means a Local Public

Assistance District referred to in section 7 of the Public
Assistance Act;

“Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the
subject of Senior Citizens’ Pension is assigned;

“pension” means the Senior Citizens’ Pension payable under this Act;
“resident” has the meaning assigned to it in the Immigration Act;
“Supervisor of Social Welfare” means a Supervisor of Social

Welfare referred to in section 8 of the Public Assistance Act.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, “Board” and “Local
Board” mean respectively the Central Public Assistance Board
and any Local Public Assistance Board established under the
Public Assistance Act, and in the exercise of their powers under
this Act the Board and any such Local Board and the Director
(Social Welfare) shall have all the rights, powers and immunities
conferred upon them respectively by the Public Assistance Act.
3. (1) With effect from 1st September 2010 a person who
satisfies the conditions specified in section 4 and receives a
monthly income in the sum specified in the first column is
entitled to a monthly Senior Citizens’ Pension in the sum
specified in the second column of the Schedule to this Act.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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Payment of
pension in
certain
circumstances.
[2 of 2012].

Ch. 32:01.

Eligibility for
pension.
[24 of 1996
8 of 1999
17 of 2007
6 of 2010
13 of 2010].

(2) The Minister may by Order, subject to negative
resolution of Parliament, amend the Schedule to this Act.
(3) In the calculation of Senior Citizens’ Pension there
shall not be taken into account any lump sum payments received
or interest from savings accrued by a senior citizen.
3A. Notwithstanding any written law to the contrary, any
person who immediately before 1st February 2012 was in
receipt of—
(a) a retirement pension of two thousand dollars

monthly under the National Insurance Act;
(b) a pension under this Act; and
(c) any other income,
shall be paid so much of his pension under this Act as would
ensure that his total income will be not less than the total income
he was in receipt of prior to 1st February 2012.
4. (1) The conditions for the receipt of a pension by any
person are—
(a) the person must have attained the age of sixty-

five years;
(b) the person must have been ordinarily resident in

Trinidad and Tobago—
(i) for a period of twenty years immediately

preceding the claim for a pension; or
(ii) for a period of fifty years in the aggregate.
(2) For the purpose of computing ordinary residence in
Trinidad and Tobago under subsection (1)(b)(i), the period of
temporary absence from Trinidad and Tobago—
(a) by a senior citizen, not exceeding five years in

the aggregate;
(b) by a senior citizen for the purpose of

employment abroad in the service of—
(i) the Government of Trinidad and Tobago;
(ii) a firm registered in Trinidad and Tobago; or
(iii) a company incorporated in Trinidad and

Tobago; and

6 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

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UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 7

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

Ch. 32:03.

Calculation of
means.
[12 of 1976
17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

Determination
of claims.
[12 of 1976
17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

(c) by a dependent of a person in the service of
the Government of Trinidad and Tobago
outside of Trinidad and Tobago, for the period
of that service,

shall not be counted as a period of absence from Trinidad
and Tobago.
(3) Notwithstanding any written law to the contrary, any
person who immediately before the commencement of the Old
Age Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1996—
(a) was in the opinion of a Local Board

possessed of eyesight so defective that he
was incapable of performing any work for
which eyesight is essential;

(b) had attained the age of forty years but had not
attained the age of sixty-five years; and

(c) was being paid a pension,
may continue to receive such pension but that person shall be
ineligible to receive any benefit under the Public Assistance Act.
5. (1) Where a person is living away from his spouse, any
sum paid to him or her by way of maintenance shall be deducted
in calculating his or her means.
(2) Where it appears to the Local Board that any person
has directly or indirectly deprived himself of any income in order
to qualify for the receipt of a pension, that income shall be taken
to be part of the total income of that person.
6. (1) All claims for a pension and all questions whether the
statutory conditions are fulfilled in the case of any person claiming
such pension, or whether these conditions continue to be fulfilled
in the case of a person in receipt of such pension, or whether a
person is disqualified for receiving or continuing to receive a
pension, shall be considered and determined as follows:
(a) every such claim or question shall be submitted in

writing by or on behalf of the claimant or the
Director (Social Welfare) and shall contain such
particulars as may from time to time be required in

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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Date on which
pension
commences to
accrue and
method of
payment.
[19 of 1951
12 of 1976
24 of 1996
17 of 2007
6 of 2010].
Pension not
assignable.
[17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

Recovery of
overpayment.
[24 of 1996
17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

accordance with a form approved by the Board and
shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Local
Board of the district in which the claimant resides;

(b) every such Chairman shall place before the
Local Board without delay all such claims or
questions together with all such information as
may be available, but it shall be incumbent on
the claimant to substantiate his claim to the
satisfaction of the Local Board;

(c) the Local Board shall consider as soon as possible
all such claims or questions and are for that
purpose empowered to take into account all such
information as may come to their knowledge
concerning the means of any person and shall
notify the claimant as to their decision; but if
they shall refuse the claim of any person for a
pension they shall notify him in writing as to the
grounds upon which such claim has been
refused, and they shall, if the person so requests,
submit the claim for the decision of the Board.

(2) A claimant who is aggrieved by the decision of the
Board to refuse his claim for a pension shall, within sixty days of
the date on which he was notified of the refusal, appeal to the
Minister against the decision.
7. Where a pension is first allowed under this Act, it shall
commence to accrue at the end of the month after the date on
which the claim for a pension is received by the Local Board or
at the end of the month after the date on which the claimant first
becomes entitled to the pension whichever is the later date.

8. Every assignment of or charge on and every agreement to
assign or charge a pension shall be void and in any such case the
Local Board may suspend payment of the pension for any period
they deem advisable.
8A. (1) Where a pensioner knowingly causes himself to be paid
a pension to which he is not entitled in accordance with the provisions
of this Act, the Director (Social Welfare) or any person appointed by

8 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

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Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 9

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

Penalty for
furnishing false
information.
[17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

Regulations.
[24 of 1996
9 of 1997
8 of 1999
17 of 2007
6 of 2010].

the President for the purpose may, whenever the President so directs,
sue and recover from that pensioner or his personal representative after
his death, the amount paid to such person.
(2) In any suit under this section, a certificate under the
hand of the Comptroller of Accounts showing the amount paid
shall be evidence that the amount stated in the certificate was
expended as described in the certificate.
(3) The amount adjudged to be repaid by the defendant
in any such suit shall rank as prior to all other claims and charges
on the defendant, or on the estate of the deceased, as the case may
be, accruing subsequent to the payment of the relief.
9. Any person who makes any statement or furnishes any
information to the Board or to a Local Board which he knows or
has reason to believe to be false in any material particular in any
declaration, estimate, return or other document which he is
required or authorised under this Act to make is liable on
summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars, and if he
is a claimant for or is in receipt of a Senior Citizens’ Pension, he
shall forfeit all claim to such pension.
10. The Minister may make Regulations for carrying the
purposes and provisions of this Act into effect, and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make Regulations—
(a) prescribing the duties of the Board, the Local

Board and the Director (Social Welfare), and
nominating any department, statutory authority
or any other entity in which the State has an
interest for the performance of such functions
on behalf of the Director;

(b) causing the circumstances of every applicant for
or recipient of a pension to be enquired into;

(c) providing for the maintenance of adequate
records of claims for a pension, reports and
decisions thereof and amounts of pension paid;

(d) prescribing the procedure to be followed on
claims for a pension;

(e) providing for the suspension or discontinuance
of a pension;

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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10 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

(ee) prescribing the procedure for the preparation
and payment of pensions;

(f) prescribing the method and places of payment
of a pension;

(g) providing for the payment of a pension in the
event of mutilation, destruction or loss of the
instrument of payment;

(h) prescribing the procedure for verifying that a
pensioner is alive;

*(i) prescribing the forms to be used for the
purposes of the Act.

*See Note on section 7 and also Note on the Old Age Pensions (Amendment) Regulations, 1997,
at page 2.

†See Note on page 3.

SCHEDULE
First Column Second Column
INCOME PENSION

not exceeding $500 … … … $3,500
exceeding $500

but not exceeding $1,450 … … … $3,050
exceeding $1,450

but not exceeding $1,650 … … … $2,850
exceeding $1,650

but not exceeding $1,800 … … … $2,700
exceeding $1,800

but not exceeding $2,000 … … … $2,500
exceeding $2,000

but not exceeding $2,200 … … … $2,300
exceeding $2,200

but not exceeding $2,400 … … … $2,100
exceeding $2,400

but not exceeding $2,600 … … … $1,900
exceeding $2,600

but not exceeding $2,800 … … … $1,700
exceeding $2,800

but not exceeding $3,000 … … … $1,500
exceeding $3,000

but not exceeding $3,500 … … … $1,000

Section 3.
†289/2014

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Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 11

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L.R.O.

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION REGULATIONS
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATION

1. Citation.
1A. Interpretation.
2. Forms of claim for a pension.
3. Claimant to answer every question on form.
4. Claimant to produce birth certificate.
5. Persons appointed to carry out Regulations.
6. Duties of Social Welfare Advisers.
7. Additional duties of Social Welfare Advisers.
8. Duties of Secretary.
9. Duties of Supervisors.
10. Monthly meetings.
11. Identification Card.
12. Pensioner to visit Social Welfare Adviser.
13. Payment of pension.
14. Where pension is payable.
15. Substituted cheque.
16. Pensioner to give notice of departure and return.
17. Suspension of pension.
18. Unsuccessful applicant may appeal to Board.
19. Board to consider all appeals against Local Board.
20. Pension payable in district of Local Board.
21. Director (Social Welfare) to keep General Register of all claims.
22. Director (Social Welfare) to keep record of amount paid to each

pensioner.
23. Auditor General to be supplied with names, etc., of pensioners.
24. Registrar General to supply date of birth, death, etc., of pensioner.
25. Registrar to inform Secretary of death of certain persons.
26. Director to be informed of certain admissions.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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[Subsidiary]
12 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

94/1954.
[184/1997
17 of 2007
*6 of 2010].

Citation.

Interpretation.
[184/1997].

Forms of claim
for a pension.
[17 of 2007].

Claimant to
answer every
question on
form.
[17 of 2007].

Claimant to
produce birth
certificate.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

Persons
appointed to
carry out
Regulations.

Duties of Social
Welfare
Advisers.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION REGULATIONS
made under section 10

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Senior Citizens’
Pension Regulations.
1A. In these Regulations “anniversary date” means the date,
in each year, corresponding with the date of pension appearing on
the identification card issued pursuant to regulation 11.
2. Forms of claim for a pension shall be issued by the Director
(Social Welfare) or by any officer of a Local Board on request.
3. Every claimant for a pension shall submit to the Chairman
of the Local Board of his district a claim on such form as may from
time to time be approved by the Board, and shall answer every
question, produce every document and give all information in his
power which may be required of him by the investigating officer,
or by the Local Board of the District or any member thereof.
4. A person claiming to be eligible for a pension shall
produce a certificate of his birth, and in the absence of any such
certificate the claimant shall, when required to do so, establish to
the satisfaction of the Local Board that he has attained the age
required by section 4(1)(a) or (2) of the Act.
5. For the purpose of carrying out these Regulations there
shall be appointed Supervisors, Secretaries and Public Assistance
Officers.
6. It shall be the duty of a Social Welfare Adviser—
(a) on receipt by the Local Board to which he has

been assigned of a claim for a pension to
interview as soon as possible the claimant and
satisfy himself by every reasonable means as to
the accuracy of the statements contained in the
claim form and to obtain all such other
information as he considers may be of assistance
in determining the merits of each claim;

*See Note on Adaptation on page 3.

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Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations [Subsidiary]
Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 13

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

(b) to furnish the Chairman of such Local Board
with a written report on each claim entrusted to
him for investigation on such form as may from
time to time be approved by the Board and such
other information as may at any time be required
by the Local Board;

(c) to report to the Chairman of such Local Board
any fact within his knowledge, which may
disqualify any claimant from obtaining or
continuing to receive a pension, or which may
affect the amount of the pension to which such
person is entitled.

7. A Social Welfare Adviser shall—
(a) attend all meetings of the Local Board to which

he has been assigned;
(b) deliver to each claimant whose claim has been

investigated by him and allowed by the Local
Board the pension voucher and identification
card issued by the Local Board together with
such other documents as the Local Board may
direct in respect of such claim;

(c) inform the Secretary of the Local Board
immediately of the death of any pensioner
becoming known to him;

(d) visit the Registrar of Births and Deaths in the
appropriate Local Public Assistance District
within seven days of the end of each month for the
purpose of obtaining information on the deaths of
all persons over the age of sixty-five years;

(e) forward the information referred to in paragraph (d)
to the Secretary of the Local Board within
seven days of the Social Welfare Adviser obtaining
the information.

Additional
duties of Social
Welfare
Advisers.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

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[Subsidiary] Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations
14 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

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8. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of each Local Board—
(a) to keep in a form approved by the Board—
(i) a register of claims for a pension submitted;
(ii) a register of claims allowed;
(iii) a register of claims rejected; and
(iv) any other register as the Board or the

Director (Social Welfare) may from time
to time direct;

(b) to forward to the Director (Social Welfare) after
each meeting of the Local Board—

(i) a schedule in the prescribed form listing
the names of all persons to whom
pensions have been paid, the rates at
which and the dates from which such
pensions are payable;

(ii) a schedule in the prescribed form listing
the names of persons whose claims for
pensions have been rejected and the
reasons for such rejection;

(iii) a schedule in the prescribed form listing
the names of persons, the payments of
whose pensions have been discontinued,
the dates from which payments were
discontinued and the reasons for
discontinuance;

(c) to keep a record of the decision on each claim
made or any question raised thereon and, in the
case of refusal of any claim, of the grounds on
which such claim has been refused;

(d) (Repealed by LN No. 184/1997);
(e) to notify immediately every claimant for a

pension as to the decision of the Local Board or
of the Board, as the case may be, with respect to
his claim or any appeal which he may lodge
against any decision of the Local Board;

Duties of
Secretary.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations [Subsidiary]
Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 15

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L.R.O.

Duties of
Supervisors.
[184/1997].

Monthly
meetings.

Identification
Card.
[17 of 2007].

Pensioner to
visit Social
Welfare Adviser.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

(f) to make and keep a record of the Minutes of the
Local Board, and forward a copy thereof after
each meeting, for the information of the
Director (Social Welfare);

(g) to forward to the Director (Social Welfare) at the
end of each month a list showing the names and
addresses together with the registration
numbers, of all pensioners whose deaths have
been reported;

(h) to keep the accounts and conduct the
correspondence of the Local Board, and in
addition perform all such other duties as may be
assigned to him either by the Chairman or the
Director (Social Welfare).

9. A Supervisor shall be appointed to and shall be
responsible for the administration of the work of each Local
Board and shall supervise the Social Welfare Advisers attached
thereto and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to
him by either the Chairman or the Director (Social Welfare).

10. Local Boards shall hold meetings monthly or more
frequently as circumstances demand, at such time and place as
the Chairman of each Local Board may determine.

11. Whenever a pension is awarded, an identification card
shall be prepared in triplicate in such form as may from time to
time be approved by the Board and shall be signed by the
Chairman of the Local Board. The identification card shall then
also be signed by the pensioner and witnessed by an officer of the
Local Board. One original shall be issued to the pensioner, another
shall be filed in the office of the Chairman of the Local Board, and
the third shall be forwarded to the Director (Social Welfare).

12. (1) Every pensioner shall report to the Social Welfare
Adviser in the appropriate Local Public Assistance District on his
anniversary date and a record of that reporting shall be made in
the form approved by the Board.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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[Subsidiary] Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations
16 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Payment of
pension.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

(2) Where a pensioner is unable to comply with
subregulation (1) by reason of illness or incapacity, he or his duly
authorised representative shall notify the Local Board in the form
approved by the Board.
(3) Where the Local Board, having been notified
pursuant to subregulation (2)—
(a) is satisfied that the pensioner is alive and unable

due to illness or incapacity to report to the
Social Welfare Adviser in accordance with
subregulation (1), it shall cause the pension to
continue to be paid or for payments to be
resumed as the case may be; or

(b) is not satisfied that the pensioner is alive, it shall
cause a Social Welfare Adviser to interview the
pensioner at his place of residence as soon as
possible after the anniversary date.

(4) Where a pensioner—
(a) fails to make the visit referred to in

subregulation (1); and
(b) fails to notify the Local Board in accordance

with subregulation (2),
the Board may suspend payment of his pension until it is satisfied
that the pensioner is alive and was unable to so visit.

13. (1) A pension shall be paid monthly by cheque to a
pensioner or his nominee on—
(a) the presentation of—
(i) a valid pension cheque; and
(ii) the identification card referred to in

regulation 11 and some other form of
identification such as a valid passport,
driver’s permit or national identification
card; and

(b) the endorsement referred to in subregulation (4).

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations [Subsidiary]
Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 17

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L.R.O.

Where pension
is payable.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

(2) Where payment is to be made to a nominee, the
nominee shall certify in such form as may be approved by the
Board, that the pensioner is alive and that he will hand the
pension to the pensioner in person.
(3) No person shall be a nominee of more than three
pensioners.
(4) Payment of a pension cheque shall not be made
unless the pensioner first endorses his pension cheque and
payment shall not be made to a nominee, unless both the
pensioner and nominee endorse the cheque.
(5) The endorsement on a pension cheque of a pensioner
or, where required under the Act, of a pensioner and his nominee
shall be regarded as an acquittance for the sum paid.
(6) Notwithstanding this regulation, payment of a
pension cheque at a supermarket, grocery or shop shall not be
made to any person other than the pensioner himself.
(7) No nominee shall encash a pension cheque at a
supermarket, grocery or shop.
(8) No pension cheque shall be encashed at a
supermarket, grocery or shop unless the pensioner presents the
identification required under subregulation (1)(a)(ii) and
endorses the cheque in favour of the owner of the supermarket,
grocery or shop in the presence of the owner or his employee.
(9) For the purposes of this regulation, “nominee”
means a duly authorised representative of a pensioner whose
authorisation in the form approved by the Board from time to
time has been approved by a Social Welfare Adviser or any other
officer of the Social Welfare Division as the Director (Social
Welfare) may, from time to time, direct.
14. (1) Pension cheques may be encashed—
(a) at any Bank in Trinidad and Tobago, the office

of the Comptroller of Accounts, any District
Revenue Office, post offices designated for such
purpose by Notification by the Minister;

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

[Subsidiary] Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations
18 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Substituted
cheque.
[184/1997].

(b) by paymasters employed by the Ministry; and
(c) subject to this regulation, at any supermarket,

grocery or shop.
(2) Where a pensioner decides to change his residence
from the district in which his pension was last awarded, to the
district of any other Local Board, he shall give notice in writing
thereof to the Chairman of the Local Board by which his pension
was so awarded.
(3) The Local Board of the district to which a pensioner
has transferred his residence shall, as soon as possible after such
transfer takes effect, cause an officer to investigate the
circumstances of the pensioner and submit a report to the Local
Board which shall consider the report.

15. (1) Subject to this regulation, in the event that a cheque
is mutilated, destroyed, stale-dated, lost or stolen, a substituted
cheque may be issued in the discretion of the Comptroller of
Accounts, no earlier than six months after the date of the cheque.
(2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1), a pensioner as
payee of the mutilated, destroyed, stale-dated, lost or stolen
cheque shall furnish a statutory declaration to that effect to the
Comptroller of Accounts.
(3) Within twenty-one days of the mutilation, destruction,
loss or theft of the cheque, the pensioner shall notify the Supervisor
of the Local Public Assistance District in which the pensioner resides.
(4) The Supervisor shall, in such form as may be
approved by the Board, notify the Director (Social Welfare) who,
as soon as possible after receiving the notification, shall notify
the Comptroller of Accounts of particulars of the mutilated,
destroyed, stale-dated, lost or stolen cheque.
(5) The pensioner shall—
(a) return the cheque to the Supervisor in the event

of the pensioner recovering possession of the
lost or stolen cheque at any time;

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations [Subsidiary]
Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 19

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

Pensioner to
give notice of
departure and
return.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

Suspension
of pension.
[184/1997
17 of 2007].

(b) advise the Supervisor should it at any time come
to the knowledge of the pensioner that another
person has come into possession of the cheque.

(6) Nothing in this regulation shall be construed as
preventing the Comptroller of Accounts from honouring a cheque
referred to in subregulation (5), where the cheque is recovered
before the expiry of the period referred to in subregulation (1).
(7) In this regulation, “Supervisor” means the
Supervisor of Social Welfare of the Local Public Assistance
District in which the pensioner resides.

16. (1) A pensioner—
(a) who intends to leave Trinidad and Tobago for a

period in excess of four months shall notify the
appropriate Local Board of the date of his
intended departure and length of stay abroad;

(b) who returns to Trinidad and Tobago after the
absence referred to in paragraph (a) shall, within
one month of his return, notify the Local Board
of his return,

in such form as may be approved by the Board.
(2) Where a pensioner fails to notify the Local Board in
accordance with subregulation (1)(a), the Board may suspend his
pension for such period as it may determine.

17. (1) Where a pensioner—
(a) becomes an inmate of a hospital, including a

hospital for the insane or an infirmary or of any
other State-operated institution where board and
lodging is provided free of charge to inmates;

(b) is imprisoned following upon his conviction for
an offence;

(c) is temporarily absent from Trinidad and Tobago
and has made the notification required in
regulation 16(1)(a),

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

[Subsidiary] Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations
20 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Unsuccessful
applicant may
appeal to Board.

Board to
consider all
appeals against
Local Board.

Pension payable
in district of
Local Board.
[17 of 2007].

for a period in excess of four months, his pension shall be
suspended but when he is discharged from the hospital, infirmary,
institution or prison or returns to Trinidad and Tobago, as the case
may be, payment of his pension shall, subject to the Act, be
resumed and he shall be entitled to payment of a pension in
respect of the period during which his pension was suspended but
not, in any case, in respect of a period longer than four months.
(2) Where a pension in excess of that to which he is
entitled under subregulation (1), is paid to a pensioner he shall be
liable to repay the sum by which he was overpaid.

18. A person whose claim has been rejected by a Local
Board, may within thirty (30) days of the receipt by him of the
notification of the grounds upon which his claim is rejected,
request the Local Board in writing to submit his claim for the
final decision of the Board.

19. The Board shall consider all such claims as are referred
to it under the preceding regulation and all relevant documents
and may require the attendance of the claimant and of such other
persons as may assist the Board in arriving at a just decision. The
Board shall communicate (through its Secretary) its findings to
the Local Board whose Secretary shall in turn notify the claimant
of the Board’s decision.

20. (1) A pension shall normally be paid within the district
of the Local Board by whom such pension has been awarded. The
Director (Social Welfare) may, however, in his discretion
authorise any paying officer to make payment of a pension to a
person not resident within such district.
(2) When a pensioner desires to transfer his residence
from the district in which a pension was last awarded to the
district of any other Local Board, he shall give notice thereof to
the Chairman of the Local Board by which such a pension was
awarded and surrender all pension vouchers in his possession.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations [Subsidiary]
Senior Citizens’ Pension Chap. 32:02 21

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

Director (Social
Welfare) to keep
General Register
of all claims.

Director (Social
Welfare) to keep
record of
amount paid to
each pensioner.
[17 of 2007].

Auditor General
to be supplied
with names, etc.,
of pensioners.
[17 of 2007].

Registrar
General to
supply date of
birth, death, etc.,
of pensioner.

Registrar to
inform Secretary
of death of
certain persons.
[184/1997].

(3) Subject to the provisions of the Act, such vouchers
shall be re-issued to the pensioner by the Local Board of the
District to which the pensioner has transferred his residence after
such transfer has been recorded in a manner approved by the
Director (Social Welfare).
(4) The Local Board of the district to which the pensioner
has transferred his residence shall as soon as possible after such
transfer takes effect consider a report by an investigating officer
regarding the circumstances of such pensioner.

21. The Director (Social Welfare) shall keep in such form as
may from time to time be approved by the Board a General
Register of all claims filed, and a register, subdivided into
districts, of all rejected claims.

22. The Director (Social Welfare) shall keep a record,
subdivided into districts, of the amount of pension paid to each
pensioner as well as of the rate at which and the date from which
such pension is payable.
23. The Director (Social Welfare) shall furnish the Auditor
General with a list of persons to whom a pension has been
granted, together with the rate at which and the date from which
such pension is payable; and from time to time shall notify him
of the addition or deletion of any name to or from such list and
the reasons therefor, and of any change in the rate at which a
pension is payable to any person, together with the date from
which addition or deletion or change of rate takes effect.
24. The Registrar General, the Superintendent Registrar, or
the Registrar of Births and Deaths of a district shall verify, free
of charge, any information as regards the date of birth or death of
a pensioner on request of the Director (Social Welfare), any Local
Board or any investigating officer.

25. (1) In respect of every person over the age of sixty-five
years whose death has been registered by the Registrar of Births
and Deaths, during the preceding month, the Registrar shall

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

[Subsidiary] Senior Citizens’ Pension Regulations
22 Chap. 32:02 Senior Citizens’ Pension

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Director to be
informed of
certain
admissions.
[184/1997].

report the following to the Secretary of the appropriate Local
Board no later than seven days after the last day of each month:
(a) the full name;
(b) the place and date of death;
(c) the last address;
(d) the name and address of the informant.

26. The Superintendent of—
(a) a hospital including a hospital for the insane, or

of an infirmary or any other State-operated
institution, where board and lodging is provided
free of charge to patients or inmates; and

(b) a prison,
shall notify the Director (Social Welfare) of the admission, within
seven days of the admission of any person who has attained or
appears to have attained the age of sixty-five years.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt