Buying or selling a home involves a lot of things, it also raises questions. In this column ‘Ask Bob’, real estate expert/broker Bob Bartikoski of RE/MAX Paradise Homes Bonaire answers a real estate question from a reader. This time:
Question: I moved to Bonaire over ten years ago and I’ve worked for a Bonaire company since I moved here. I just turned 65 and I am wondering if I am entitled to a pension from Bonaire?
If you were a resident of Bonaire and you worked for a Bonaire company, you might be entitled to receive a pension from the island pension fund, also known as S.Z.W. (Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid). When you turn 65 you can contact the pension office via email at [email protected] and they will provide you with an application form to complete.
They will review your application and your employment history to see if you qualify. You can expect to receive an answer within two or three months after you apply. The pension office will notify you if you qualify for a pension and the amount. If you are approved they will deposit your pension directly into your local bank account each month.
But don’t wait too long, if you apply for your pension late, they will only go back a maximum of 12 months for back payments.
Please email me directly if you need more information on a specific property at [email protected]. Bonaire: +599-717-7362. Call for free from the US: 1-866-611-7362. See all our listings here.