| Date: | 1981 - |
| Description: | The Universal Old Age Pension (Algemene Oudedagsvoorziening, AOV) is the main old-age pension programme in Suriname, targeting residents aged 60 and older. |
Characteristics
| Target population: | The AOV targets persons aged 60 and older. Eligible recipients include Surinamese citizens and foreign nationals who have resided continuously in Suriname for at least 10 years and have been subject to the corresponding tax obligation. |
| Geographic scale: | National |
| Targeting method: | Universal |
| Instrument of selection: | … |
| Registry of recipients: | … |
| Exit strategies or criteria: | Recipients lose entitlement if they permanently migrate outside Suriname or upon death. |
| Comments: | Since the Santokhi-Brunswijk government took office in August 2020, the AOV has been increased five times: from SRD 525 to SRD 700 (September 2020), to SRD 1,000 (2021), to SRD 1,250 (March 2022), to SRD 1,750 (July 2023), and to SRD 2,250 (March 2025). In August 2023, a one-off purchasing power supplement (koopkrachtversterking) of SRD 1,800 was paid to all beneficiaries. In December 2022, an additional one-time bonus of SRD 1,000 was paid to elderly persons solely dependent on the AOV. Payment is made via the Moni Karta government debit card or bank transfer, including to beneficiaries in the interior of the country. |
Institutionality
| Legal framework: | 1981 Act on General Old Age Provision (Wet Algemene Oudedagsvoorziening) |
| Responsible organization(s): | Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (SOZAVO) |
| Executing organization(s): | AOV Fund (Algemeen Oudedagsvoorzieningfonds), under SOZAVO |
| Responsible organization(s) for the registry of recipients: | AOV Fund (Algemeen Oudedagsvoorzieningfonds) |
| Source of funding: | General government revenues and a 4% contribution on taxable income of residents under age 60, collected by the Ministry of Finance |
1) Old Age Pension (AOV)
| Recipient(s): | |
| Mode of transfer: | Flat-rate transfer |
| Mode of delivery: | Bank transfer or Moni Karta government debit card; cash payment for beneficiaries in interior regions |
| Periodicity of delivery: | Quarterly (entitlement accrues monthly; formal payment made in quarterly instalments) |
| Recipient of the transfer: | The pension recipient |
| Maximum per household: | … |
| Conditionalities: | nan |
| Sanctions: | … |
| Comments: | To apply, recipients must submit: an extract from the birth register, two passport photos, and proof of registration in the population register, at the AOV Fund office |
| Amount : | SRD 2,250 per month (as of March 2025). See historical data sheet. |
