“CNSS authorizes the distribution of more than RD$6 billion to teachers with double contributions”

The National Social Security Council (CNSS) approved the disbursement of more than RD$6 billion corresponding to the pension contributions withheld from teachers who contribute simultaneously to the Ministry of Education (MINERD) and through a public or private sector employer.

With the approval of CNSS Resolution No. 638-06, the governing body of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS) mandates that said resources, along with the generated profitability, be distributed between the National Institute for Teacher Welfare (INABIMA) and the Pension Fund Administrator (AFP) selected by each worker, according to the origin of the contributions.

This decision puts an end to a situation that for years affected thousands of teachers with double contributions, who were making payments simultaneously to INABIMA and the Dominican Pension System.

The resolution ensures that teachers receive the benefits derived from all their contributions, respecting the rights acquired by the contributions made in both systems.

Law 87-01 establishes the principle of single affiliation; however, paragraph I of article 43 provides that affiliates retain the right to enjoy two or more pensions when these are the result of contributions made to an equal number of contributory plans.

CNSS Resolution No. 638-06 details that the resources derived from pension contributions withheld by the Social Security Treasury (TSS) and the profitability they have accumulated must be distributed as follows:

a.           The contributions of teachers who had and/or have MINERD as their sole employer, plus their profitability, will be transferred to INABIMA.

b.            The contributions of teachers who had or have a private and/or public employer, plus their profitability, will be dispersed to the Individual Capitalization Account (CCI) of the AFP selected by them.

c.            In the case of contributions from teachers who contribute simultaneously to MINERD and to a private and/or public employer, their contributions plus their profitability will be dispersed to INABIMA for the portion corresponding to MINERD, and to the Individual Capitalization Account (CCI) of the AFP selected by them for the portion coming from a private and/or public employer, respectively, with the objective that they may enjoy all the benefits established in each of these funds, taking into account that they are the result of contributions to different systems.

This decision will benefit thousands of teachers with dual contributions by ensuring that the resources from their contributions are distributed to the corresponding pension funds, preserving the rights acquired through their contributions and allowing them to access, when applicable, the social security benefits established by Law 87-01.

The CNSS instructed the Superintendence of Pensions (SIPEN), with the support of the Social Security Treasury (TSS) and UNIPAGO, to calculate the profitability generated by the withheld pension contributions, individualizing the funds corresponding to each affiliate.

Once that process is concluded, the Social Security Treasury will proceed to disburse the funds, complying with the resolution within a maximum period of three calendar months, counted from its notification.