If you've been paying a high monthly premium to be enrolled in the CAJA, you may be in for a substantial reduction. Basically, Lic. Jaime Barrantes Espinoza, General Manager, CAJA Pensions, has informed Lic. Gustavo Picado Chacón, General Manager, CAJA Finance that those covered by an old age pension from any source are not required to pay into the CAJA old age pension system. What's more, in order to be eligible to receive an old age pension payment from the CAJA, you must have contributed for longer than many of us have been in Costa Rica. So it's unlikely you'd qualify anyway.
Here is a translation of the relevant part of the letter referred to above . . .
FROM Lic. Jaime Barrantes Espinoza, General Manager, CAJA Pensions
TO: Lic. Gustavo Picado Chacón, General Manager, CAJA Finance
According to Article 2 of the CAJA Bylaws/Constitutión, only the following are REQUIRED to contribute to IVM (Disability, Old Age, and Death):
All salaried workers, private or independant, be they from the pubic private, or independant sectors.
NOT for the population with established pensions.
Article 4 of the Bylaws states that those who are NOT required to insure are:
a. Members of the family of the insured that live with him, do not receive a salary monetarily.
b. Those workers who receive a pensión or retirement from the State, its institutions, or municipalities. However continue to be insured for sickness or pregnancy.
As stated before: It's clear, that while immigrants cannot go against norms, it is not obligatory for immigrants with pensions. <emphasis added>
