The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the States of Guernsey on social security takes effect on 1 June 2021. Under the Agreement:
– residents of Latvia, who have lived and worked in Guernsey, can apply for an old-age pension from Guernsey upon reaching the retirement age and the required duration of the social insurance period. Information about eligibility to an old-age pension in Guernsey: https://www.gov.gg/article/163185/Working--Retiring#selectednavItem163199
– residents of Guernsey, who have lived and worked in Latvia, can apply for an old-age pension from Latvia subject to the retirement age and the required duration of the social insurance period specified in the Latvian laws and regulations. Upon death of a breadwinner, a family member incapable to work (a child) may also be eligible to the Latvian survivor's pension based on the social insurance period accumulated in Latvia by the deceased breadwinner.
In order to receive an old-age pension from Guernsey, a person residing in Latvia has to submit an application to the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) with a request for an old-age pension from Guernsey which VSAA will then forward to the competent Guernsey authority for review.
If the social insurance period in Guernsey is lower than provided in the national laws and regulations of Guernsey, Guernsey may use the social insurance periods in Latvia approved by VSAA to determine the eligibility to the pension. The Guernsey pension will be calculated based on the social insurance periods accumulated in Guernsey.
The pension granted by Guernsey to pensioners residing in Latvia will be transferred to their bank accounts in Latvia every month for the preceding month.
In order to receive an old-age pension or a survivor’s pension from Latvia, a person residing in Guernsey has to apply to the Office of the Committee for Employment & Social Security and fill in a pension application, enclosing the supporting documents as a proof of employment periods and periods equivalent to employment in Latvia, as well as other documents required for the particular type of pension. The application and the documents will be forwarded to VSAA for review.
If the Latvian social insurance period is insufficient to claim an old-age pension or a survivor’s pension from Latvia, the social insurance periods in Guernsey approved by the competent Guernsey authority will also be taken into account when determining the eligibility to the pension. The Latvian pension will be calculated only for the social insurance period accumulated in Latvia.
The pension granted by Latvia to pensioners residing in Guernsey will be transferred to their bank accounts in Guernsey monthly.