The list of Frequently Asked Questions has been organized into several categories. Please click a category below to view the questions and answers for that category.
How often are life certificates due?
Life certificates are due every three months. They are sent out March, June, September, and December and should be returned by the end of April, July, October, January respectively.
How should life certificates be submitted?
Life certificates can be mailed to the Accountant General’s Department or be delivered by hand.
Can life certificates be faxed or emailed?
No, all life certificates must be in the original form, signed and certified.
When pension is suspended are the arrears paid upon resumption?
Yes, when payments are resumed the arrears from suspended periods are paid.
If I do not get a life certificate in the mail, what is the next course of action?
You may collect a bar coded form at the office or request that a copy be emailed. or mailed.
If I die, will my family be able to get my pension?
Your pension cease when you die. Public Officer who contributed to the Civil Service Family Benefit Scheme (W&O), children under 19 years and spouse (married) will benefit from a pension. Public Officers who die in service, widows/widowers and children under 19 years also benefit from a pension.
If I am receiving a widows/widowers pension, will the pension cease if I remarry?
If you are a public officer’s widow/widower your pension continues if you remarry, however in the case of Police (JCF/ISCF) and Soldier’s (JDF) widow/widower the pension ceases if you should remarry.
Do pensioners pay taxes?
Yes. Once your pension is more than the tax threshold you pay 25% income tax on the difference.
Can pension be sent directly to a bank account?
Yes. We ask that all pensioners complete banking instructions to have payment sent directly to your bank account. The forms may be collected at the office or downloaded from the website. In the absence of the form, you may write a letter to the Department with the banking information (account number, name of financial institution, and location). The letter must be sign, dated and certified by a Justice of the Peace/Notary Public. A bank account verification must accompany the from/letter.
Can monthly pension cheques be collected at the Accountant General’s Department?
No, some arrangement must be made to send payment directly to your bank account or advise us of your reason to have payments sent to a Post Office.
How can I change my address, banking information or any of my personal details on my file?
All changes to your file must be done in writing with you signature affixed and certified by a Justice of the Peace/Notary Public. Change forms are available on our website.
Can Documents regarding my payment be faxed or emailed to the AGD?
All documents must be sent to the Department in its original form. If you reside overseas the copied document must be certified by a notary public and warded to the Department.
I am receiving less than the minimum pension, when will this change?
If you are receiving below minimum pension, and you have completed ten (10) years of service you will be brought up to the minimum pension, upon attaining age 55 .
When am I due full pension?
Full pension (restoration) is due after 12½ years of retirement. This is paid automatically and is equivalent to 1/3 of your basic pension.
When am I due an increase?
Increase is paid each year based on the Government’s discretion. Pensioners except widows and dependents should be in retirement for at least 2 ½ years and should be over the age 55.
Can I get health benefits now that I am a pensioner?
You may apply for the Government Pensioners health plan. You may complete the forms at AGD or at a Sagicor Office. The deduction orders will be submitted to the AGD and the contribution will be deducted from your pension. Contributions are currently $847.40 for individual benefits and $1,462.60 for family benefits (spouse only).
May I continue to use the Sagicor card I received while in the service?
You will continue to use your card while on pre-retirement leave. However, during this time you must apply for the Government Pensioners Health Plan. After the deductions have commenced from the pension, payments are forwarded to Sagicor and after 3 months deduction has been forwarded, Sagicor will send you a new card.
Who is eligible for a Motor Vehicle Loan?
- Offered to appointed travelling officers that works within the Central Government
- Approved by The Ministry of Finance and Public Services
- Upon approval the package is forwarded to the Accountant General’s Department for payment
What is the maximum amount offer for a Motor Car Loan?
- New Vehicle: $2,500,000.00
- Used Vehicle: $1,500,000.00 (Up to 5 yrs)
What is the repayment amount for New Vehicle?
- $1,000,000.00 – 108 monthly Installments of $9,259.26 @ 3% interest (Reducing Balance)
- $1,500,000.00 -108 monthly Installments of $13,888.89 – No interest
- Total monthly repayment: $23,148.15 excluding interest
What is the repayment amount for Used Vehicle?
- $500,000.00 – 84 monthly Installments of $5,952.39 @ 3% interest (Reducing Balance)
- $1,000,000.00 – 84 monthly Installments of $11,904.77 – No interest
- Total monthly repayment: $17,857.16
What is the maximum amount granted for Tertiary Assistance Loan?
- $500,000.00
What is the current interest rate on Interest bearing loans?
3% per annum calculated on the reducing-balance
Does an Applicant have to be permanent employed?
No, however the applicant must be employed to the Public Sector for 2 continuous years.
What is the cost for Official General Receipt Books?
General Receipt books are sold in batches of ten (10). The cost for each batch of ten (10) is JMD$4,500.00. Payment can be made by cash, Manager’s cheque, direct deposit made payable to Accountant General for Miscellaneous Revenue or by credit/debit card.
What are the requirements for purchasing an Official Receipt Book?
Payment must be accompanied by a duly completed requisition form (in duplicate) bearing the stamp of the Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) and the authorized signature. At the point of collection, the MDA’s representative/bearer must present a valid Government-issued form of identification such as a Driver’s License, Passport or Elector Registration Identification Card.
Please note that ID cards issued by MDAs are not accepted.
In cases where payment was made via direct deposit, proof of deposit must be presented along with items required above.
What is a mortgage deposit payment?
Mortgage deposit payments are payments into the Treasury to liquidate an outstanding mortgage on a property, when the mortgagor/borrower is unable to locate the mortgagee/lender. Payment must be made in accordance with the requirements of the Registration of Titles Act and must be made by an attorney acting on behalf of the borrower.
What documents should be submitted when making mortgage deposit payments?
The following are required to facilitate the acceptance of mortgage deposit payments by the Treasury and the issue of receipts therefore (in cases where the client is the registered proprietor on the Certificate of Title):
- Manager’s cheque for outstanding mortgage plus interest made payable to the Accountant General.
- Cover letter from the representing Attorney, making reference in the caption to the mortgage, volume, and folio numbers of the respective property title.
- Copy of Duplicate Certificate of Title.
- Statutory Declaration signed by the mortgagor/registered owner and certified by a Justice of the Peace. Included in this declaration should be a statement that the declarant is being represented by the respective Attorney(s) in this matter.
- Proof that the mortgagee is deceased, is no longer in operation, or that attempts have been made to contact same — such as two advertisements placed a week apart, in at least one of the two major newspapers in Jamaica (i.e., The Gleaner or The Jamaica Observer).In cases where the mortgagee is a company/financial institution, a letter from the Companies Office of Jamaica, Bank of Jamaica, or any other relevant regulatory body stating the status of the entity is required. (Original document only.)
- Copy of Application for Discharge of Mortgage which will be submitted to the Office of Titles (Optional).
Please note that additional documents may be required on a case-by-case basis, especially where the client/applicant is not the registered owner of the property, such as with applications pertaining to adverse possession and vesting orders.
What methods of payment are accepted by the AGD?
Cash, credit/debit card, company or manager’s cheque (not exceeding $999,999.99) made payable to the Accountant General’s Department.
NO PERSONAL CHEQUE IS ACCEPTED
What are Court Orders and how do Court Orders impact operations in the Treasury Deposit Unit?
Court Orders represent instructions from a Court of Law with respect to a specific case. Monies paid into the Treasury pursuant to an Order for Payment Into Treasury can only be retrieved by way of an Order for Payment Out of Treasury. Examples of cases from which Court Orders may derive include:
- Civil Cases being tried before the Parish Court, formerly the Resident Magistrates’ Court
- Civil and Commercial Cases being tried before the Supreme Court
- Cases that are brought before the Court of Appeal
What documents are required for submission when making payments into Treasury/Court?
The following documents are required for submission to the Accountant General’s Department to facilitate payment into Treasury/Court:
1) A cover letter from the representing Attorneys making reference to the claim number, and case name in the caption and expressing the intention to pay a specified sum into Treasury/Court.
2) Original perfected Formal Order from the Supreme Court.
On receipt of the above documents, the Treasury Deposits Unit will, in reply to the Attorney(s), provide the appropriate bank account details to facilitate the direct deposit of funds into Treasury Deposits. Thereafter, the depositor is required to provide:
3) Proof of direct deposit from the sending financial institution.
What documents are required for submission when requesting payment of funds out of Treasury/Court?
1) A cover letter from the representing Attorneys making reference to the claim number, and case name in the caption and expressly requesting payment of a specified sum out of Treasury, pursuant to the attached Court Order.
2) Original perfected Order for Payment Out of Treasury from the Supreme Court.
3) Duly completed Client Information Form containing the bank account details of the payee so specified by the Court to facilitate payment via direct transfer. The completed form must be submitted along with verification/proof of account.
