MORE THAN 55,000 National Housing Trust (NHT) contributors have received refunds over the last six months from the Government agency.
Contributors can claim for all years where payment was due but not collected, according to the Jamaica Information Service.
Contributions held for seven years are refunded at three per cent interest and those for longer at eight per cent. The refunds are offered under the NHT's Regular and Special Refund programmes.
Claimants with mortgage loans and successful loan applicants will not receive a cheque but the refund will be transferred to their mortgage.
According to the NHT, processing takes 10 working days or less and can be claimed at its offices islandwide. Persons can authorise bearers to collect on their behalf, with a letter of authorisation witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (JP).
TYPES OF REFUND
There are two types of refund. Regular contribution refunds are due eight years after payment of the contribution and can be refunded a year at a time.
Special contribution refunds are available for retirees aged 60 to 65 years old, invalidity pensioners, migrating expatriates and agents of deceased contributors.
REGULAR REFUND PROGRAMME CLAIMANTS MUST PROVIDE:
Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN); or
National Insurance Scheme (NIS) number.
Contact number
Name/s of company or companies worked at during the claim period.
Any name change information.
SPECIAL PROGRAMME CLAIMANTS MUST PROVIDE:
Retired persons:
Proof of age
Identification
Proof of contribution
Invalidity pensioners:
Pension booklet; or...
NIS awards letter.
Identification.
Proof of contribution.
Expatriates:
Income tax clearance letter.
One-way ticket or letter from their place of employment; or...
A letter from their place of employment or an embassy that they are leaving the country permanently.
In the case of deceased persons:
A will, probated and then claimed for by the executor; or
If the person died without a will (intestate) individuals must complete documents supplied by the NHT and supply proof of death, funeral expense receipt and other documents, depending on the situation.
For more information contact the NHT: 876-929-6500-9 or http://www.nht.gov.jm/
