Services administered by the Social Security Department are as follows:

Social Insurance

A person who has attained school leaving ages is liable for the payment of insurance contributions under the Guernsey Social Insurance Scheme.  The contributions relate to social benefits, health benefits and long term care insurance.   A person pays contributions as an employed, self-employed or non-employed person.

Liability for social insurance contributions ceases at the age of 65, but liability for health and long term care insurance contributions continues.  Contributions for a person over 65, and a non-employed person under 65, are income related but subject to an upper limit.

Under the terms of a reciprocal agreement between the United Kingdom and Guernsey, a UK resident can continue to pay voluntary Class 4 contributions to the UK as well as contributing to Guernsey.  The agreement also provides, under certain circumstances, for ‘detached workers’, that is, people remaining employed by a UK employer but working in Guernsey, to keep paying to the UK.  Further information may be obtained from the Social Security Department.

Social Insurance Benefits

The payment of contributions provides for a range of social insurance benefits including:

Old Age Pension
Bereavement Benefits
Sickness Benefit
Invalidity Benefit
Industrial Injuries Benefits
Maternity Benefits
Travelling Allowance Grant
Unemployed Benefit
Death Grant
Guardians’ Allowance

Contributions paid under the United Kingdom Social Insurance Scheme and some other countries, may be taken into account by Guernsey to assist with entitlement to some of these benefits.

Other available benefits are:

Health Benefits

The health benefits are available to residents who live in Guernsey and are liable to pay contributions.

The benefits are:

Pharmaceutical Benefit
Health Benefit Grants
Specialist Medical Benefit

Pharmaceutical Benefit provides prescription drugs and a limited range of medical appliances for a nominal prescription charge.  Health Benefit Grants are fixed rate grants towards the cost of medical consultations with General Practitioners and practice nurses.  Specialist Medical Benefit is the provision, free of charge to the patient, of specialist medical care supplied under contracts that the States have with the medical specialist group practices.

Long-term Care Insurance

This is a new scheme, started in 2003, which helps residents meet the costs of residential and nursing home fees.  You must have lived in Guernsey or Alderney for at least 5 years, including 1 year immediately prior to claiming benefit.

Family Allowance

An allowance is payable for every qualifying child of a family resident in Guernsey.  It must be claimed within 3 months of taking up residence or of the child’s birth.

All children under school-leaving age qualify, as do any who are receiving a full-time recognised educational course until the 1st August following their 19th birthday.  A contribution credit is awarded to protect your old age pension entitlement if you are not otherwise liable to pay contributions.

Family allowance is not taxable, but there is no income tax allowance for dependent children.

Families entering the island from the United Kingdom or Jersey are normally entitled to the allowance on taking up residence because of a reciprocal agreement between social security authorities.  Agreements also exist with other countries, but in the absence of any such provisions a qualifying period of residence of up to 12 months may have to be served before the allowance is payable.

Supplementary Benefit

The Guernsey Social Security Department also administers the Supplementary Benefit (Guernsey) Law.

Further Information

Further information and leaflets on the services administered by the Social Security Department may be obtained from the following address:

Social Security Department,
Edward T. Wheadon House,
Le Truchot,
St Peter Port,
Guernsey GY1 3WH