Social Security in Guernsey
All residents of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Jethou over school leaving age are required to pay social insurance. There are three different categories of contribution rates. Paying social insurance entitles you to claim benefits. The classes are:
Class 1 - Employed Persons
Most people who work for wages or a salary under a contract of service are in this class.
Class 2 - Self-employed Persons
Those people who are in business for themselves and other people who are working for gain but not under the control of an employer.
Class 3 - Non-employed Persons
All insured persons who are not employed or self-employed.
Everyone employed locally needs a social security card and should contact the Social Security Department within seven days of starting work within the Bailiwick to obtain a social insurance card. If you are sent by your employer to work temporarily outside Guernsey (or Alderney) as part of your employment, you will pay contributions as if you were actually working in Guernsey (or Alderney).
If you are unable to work because of illness or injury, you are entitled to a credit for each contribution week for which you produce medical evidence of your inability to work. However, if you continue to receive wages from your employer while you are unable to work, Class 1 contributions must still be paid by you and him.
The value of your Gross Earnings can be reduced by the amount of any social insurance benefit that you hand back to your employer, so of course you will pay less in the way of contributions for the relevant period.
You give this card to your employer when you start work.
Social Security Benefits (sickness, invalidity, maternity, accident etc) depend on how long you’ve been paying contributions.
There is no unemployment benefit or jobseeker’s allowance in the island.
If you’ve lived in the island for more than five years you may be entitled to financial assistance from your Parish.
Information provided on these pages is intended for general information
purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice.
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