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Social Security Board to launch Penalty Amnesty Programme on July 1

- Penalty amnesty will end on December 31, 2026
The Social Security Board (SSB) has announced that a Penalty Amnesty Programme will come into effect on July 1, 2026, to give eligible contributors an opportunity to settle outstanding Social Security and National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions while benefitting from waived surcharges and penalties. Photo: VINO/File
Managing Director of the Social Security Board, Ms Lorie A. Freeman has encouraged defaulters to participate in the amnesty, emphasising the one-time nature of the programme. Photo: SSB/File
Managing Director of the Social Security Board, Ms Lorie A. Freeman has encouraged defaulters to participate in the amnesty, emphasising the one-time nature of the programme. Photo: SSB/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– The Social Security Board (SSB) has announced that a Penalty Amnesty Programme will come into effect on July 1, 2026, to give eligible contributors an opportunity to settle outstanding Social Security and National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions while benefitting from waived surcharges and penalties.

The Penalty Amnesty programme will end on December 31, 2026.

According to SSB, in a press release today, June 9, 2026, employers may participate by paying outstanding principal balances in full or, where approved, through structured payment arrangements.

The programme will also be open to voluntary contributors and self-employed persons.

'Fairness'

This initiative forms part of the Board’s broader effort to make compliance more achievable, while ensuring that workers remain protected and eligible for benefitsBy encouraging defaulters to address historic arrears, the programme supports the sustainability of the Territory’s social protection system and promotes fairness for compliant employers, employees and the wider community, SBB stated.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director of the Social Security Board, Ms Lorie A. Freeman said: “This programme provides an opportunity for employers to regularise their accounts within a structured and supportive framework. Our goal is to ensure that employees have uninterrupted access to benefits and healthcare, while making compliance more accessible for defaulters.”

'This programme will not be repeated'- Lorie A. Freeman

Freeman also encouraged defaulters to participate in the amnesty, emphasising the one-time nature of the programme. She noted: “It is important to be clear that this programme will not be repeated. Stricter compliance and enforcement measures will take effect from January 2027.”

Following the exipration of the amnesty, penalty relief under the initiative will no longer be available, and defaulters who do not participate or fail to meet programme conditions will face full statutory enforcement, SSB emphasised.

Employers, self-employed persons and voluntary contributors with outstanding contributions are encouraged to act early and seek guidance on their eligibility and participation options. For more information about the Penalty Amnesty Programme, interested parties may contact the Social Security Board at 852 7857.

30 Responses to “Social Security Board to launch Penalty Amnesty Programme on July 1”

  • Law for the lawless (09/06/2026, 14:59) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    what need to be done is the employers who have been deducting their employees contribution month in, month out, year in, year out and do not pay it in need to be taken to court. So many of us, especially on work permit suffer in this place, we go on maternity leave - cannot claim because not up to date. Sick or injured - cannot claim, reach 65 and cannot receive a proper benefit monthly because the employer screw us over. Some of them do not want to give their staff a payslip and what are we suppose to do? beat it out of them? Make any kind of complain and their friends in labour and social security call them up. Social Security say we can check on our contributions, but for the couple times I checked, before I reach back to work the boss done know and try to bully me for trying to find out my own business. What they do to people is not right and it need addressing, not no amnesty. The employers know they can do what they want because everything in B.V.I is friends and family situation and to hell with the others. The most youall can come back and try to hang me with is your usual comment to say to go back home
    • Styler (09/06/2026, 20:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Law for the Lawless: I just feel your pain as you rightly said before you leave SS Office your boss done know you were there and that’s a disgrace you only trying to secure what you work for is been paid in they talk to DAM much there mouth like tap running water. As a lady i feel it having a child and can’t receive a proper SS check that employer have no shame and pocketing your little two cents.
    • @law for the lawless (10/06/2026, 10:48) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      The solution is VERY simple but the BVI government refuse to hold their friends to account. They put personal preference above doing what is right. Every year businesses need to renew their trade licenses. As part of that process, the trade department should require a certificate of good standing from SSB and NHI. As part of the SSB and NHI good standing application, companies should have to provide a list of all current employees FROM THE LABOR DEPARTMENT - so they can verify contributions for all have been paid and are up to date. No certificate of good standing. NO TRADE LICENSE. Done.
  • Employers please . (09/06/2026, 15:39) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    Go and get your employees straighten out. Lots of employees are working, money coming out and employers not paying the employees contributions..After this amnesty, time to get dishonest and fraudulent employers arrested...Time to get serious.
  • Sweating (09/06/2026, 15:43) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some employers sweating right now. Whole time they deducting money from workers pay and Social Security never seeing a cent
    • DEE BROOO (10/06/2026, 16:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You have NO idea how much of a reality this is for so many. very unfair. they are too lenient with the employers.
  • Wickedness (09/06/2026, 15:43) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Imagine working years, get sick, go NHI and hear ‘no contributions on record’. Wickedness at a different level
  • Worker (09/06/2026, 15:44) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Funny how some businesses always got money for a new vehicle, but never got money for workers NHI
  • magic (09/06/2026, 15:45) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some people about to discover their boss wasn’t doing accounting, he was doing magic tricks
  • Enters AI (09/06/2026, 16:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    AI. This is one example of how AI is used in Gov't and businesses. Instead of a human reviewing spreadsheets and ledgers, one command (prompt) and the Bot will review absolutely every licensed business entity on file, the current balance, number of employees, payments made, payments owed and the amounts. The output will be a list of defaulters within seconds.
  • WHAT!!! (09/06/2026, 16:46) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    What will happen to employers who do not take advantage of the amnesty and continue to put their staff deductions in their pockets?
    NOTHING as usual , you all know who most of these thieves are are but let them continue in their nasty ways.
  • strupppsss (09/06/2026, 16:47) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    So many people not paying social security and NHI and they are taking it out of them pay. this needs to stop.
    please make this continue, and make people pay the money that ow
    You all need a police in you all department
    nonsense buhh still December it is ending.
  • FIRE (09/06/2026, 16:59) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all know how to use big words while robbing people.
  • taxman (09/06/2026, 17:44) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. Employers who withhold taxes on behalf of employees but do not remit them are essentially thieves stealing from the government and the voters, even if the business is bahn and raised here. In the US, IRS can fine said employers heavily and even sentence them to years of prison. An option here is just to suspend their trade licenses until they make good.
    2. My guess is that one of the causes for this is poor cash flow management, meaning that an amnesty is not likely to yield significant monies.
    • jail time (09/06/2026, 18:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      We gonna need a bigger prison
    • Britain can you arrest NHI, S S & employers (10/06/2026, 06:18) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      NHI and Social security cannot avoid getting blame and seeing as a failure for not enforcing their workers contributions laws and policies. Start at the top. They need arrested, seriously. Do you all know the large # of workers that employees taking out contributions and not paying in it ..How many complains workers made to both NHI, SS and Labour, yet nothing happened, no Justice. I am 100% sure if Britain was running this country workers will get justice and both Labour, NHI, Social security and employers will be held responsible. Why these entities that they are above the law ? Mr. Governor if you see this blog pls look into these matters. So glad we are not independent
  • Naturalization (09/06/2026, 18:59) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am in the process of applying for my naturalization after living here almost 25 years. They will not accept my application because my certificate of earnings do not match between ssb and nhi....employer pays nhi so your card works and you can go to the dr but doesn't pay SSB....this so wrong.
  • Me (09/06/2026, 18:59) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you are adamn tief nothing can beat you ass
  • Bull (09/06/2026, 20:03) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    And when the time has passed, and no one has payed up What happens then? These so called business owners are nothing but thieves and government continues to let them pray on the powerless..
  • Is government (09/06/2026, 20:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Going to honor the payments the employees have been deducted for medical cover or simply allow the employer after it’s theft of those employee contributions escape Scot free without prosecution once again!
  • pat (09/06/2026, 20:17) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    Not enough we need all debts wiped out and a new page started
  • Employees who’ve been denied medical coverage (09/06/2026, 20:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are they going to receive retroactive medical coverage we’ll treat your cancer 5 years after it killed you!
  • Naturalization (09/06/2026, 20:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I began my application process 1.5 years ago. After gathering countless documents, I finally had my much anticipated meeting to submit all my paperwork. My paperwork was refused because my SSB and NHI do not match. It's time employers need to be held accountable not the employees and ultimately the future citizens of the country
    • @Naturalization (10/06/2026, 10:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Get a Lawyer and sue their behind. If you are unable to afford one, put your employer on blast. Them too thief! Look mehn, they even calling themselves, Christians. God don't like this at all. They will get whats coming to them sooner than they realise.
  • smdh (09/06/2026, 21:58) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Theft being justified. Perpetrators given another chance whilst the victims suffer. We are some very special people in the BVI. Evilness and wickedness from high places. By the time employees go ask any questions at SS or NHI or even IRD, them aint reach back office yet and employer done know. We cant win,we will continute to suffer. But just remember, yall claim you are a 'Christian' society. Carry on with the 'Amnesty' ayo words big like ayo ego messon
  • hmm (10/06/2026, 00:56) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    When will social security work faster to enter and update person's contributions?
  • Native Tongue (10/06/2026, 06:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is not progress
  • hmm (10/06/2026, 09:50) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    First start with the hospital. Are they paying NHI
  • Kim (10/06/2026, 16:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    If your employer not paying write there name here so that SSB kno who to investigate


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