Yes. Pensioners who desire to contribute to the NHT are allowed to register as Voluntary Contributors.

As a voluntary contributor you should contribute 3% of your gross earnings if you are employed by someone else, or 3% of your income, net business related expenses if you are self-employed.

Your first payment is due immediately upon registration. Thereafter, voluntary contributions are due by the last day of every month and must be paid no later than the 15th of the following month.  For example, voluntary contributions for the month of September are due September 30th but must be paid by October 15th to avoid penalties.  

If you are an overseas contributor, your contribution is quoted in the currency of the country which you are working. Your payment will then be converted to local currency at the prevailing rate set by the Bank of Jamaica on the date the payment is processed.

Voluntary contributors, like all other NHT contributors are due a refund of their contributions in the eighth year after those payments were made.

All contribution refunds to voluntary contributors will be made in Jamaican dollars. Refund payments will be made directly to the contributor or if a mortgage exists, to the contributor’s loan account. In addition, mortgages to voluntary contributors will be transacted in Jamaican currency only.

Voluntary contributors must have made at least 104 weeks (2 years) contributions, of which 52 weeks must be paid in the period immediately before the date of application. For example, if you contributed for five (5) years prior to migrating would, on registering as a voluntary contributor, you must contribute for at least an additional year before being eligible to apply for a loan. This change in requirement came into effect recently.

Voluntary contributors are required to continue making contributions even after they have received a loan from the NHT. If their contributions fall into arrears, the sums due will be deducted from the sums tendered as mortgage payments.   Voluntary Contributors who are borrowers would have contribution arrears payments deducted from their mortgage payments.

Voluntary contributors will not be charged interest on contribution principal arrears, i.e., contributions due since voluntary registration but not yet paid.

You will be contacted within 3 working days following the submission of your application.