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Information required on CAJA payment

marcel550

Hi to you all,


We've been coming to  Costa Rica a few times and have now received our CR pensionado residency, have paid my CAJA a few months now.  We're going back to Canada for 6 months and have read that we can avoid, not pay the CAJA the months that we are away.

Hoping someone here can give me information.....I was heading to Filadelfia for information but I do otherwise.

See also

Retiring in Costa RicaTravelling to Costa RicaProcess to Put CAjA membership on holdReactivation of CAJA payments after return?Will be divorce by honored?
rainagain

You need to go to a CCSS Administrative Office (not a clinic) to get the right information/document etc.   Maybe even take a Tico friend with you that speaks Spanish if yours isn't too good.  Even then, things can fall through the cracks...   But do it right.   If you just don't pay, your Residency will be withdrawn because being in the CCSS system is mandatory for having Residency.  I hear it is possible to do what you want to do... but please go above and beyond to get the right information and procedures.

As the old saying goes... "Measure twice, cut once."

AJGrandmaa

I agree with Rainagains advice.  My husband and I had payments suspended last year when we knew we could not return for several months. We dealt with the supervisor of our Caja office who is very knowledgeable and helpful.  Our Spanish is basic so had a translator - he worked at the clinic.  They both helped us fill out the paperwork forms and we had to write out an explanation in Spanish - the forms were given to us there at the time.  Needed proof of our departure tickets.    When we returned the supervisor was on vacation - and the staff who take payments had no idea what we’re talking about and insisted we had to start again - from scratch..  Luckily we were able to wait until the supervisor returned and had payments started and are back on track.  Was a stressful wait. We were advised by our lawyer that each office is slightly different in how they approach it, so I don’t think there are standard forms.     If you do this, be sure to keep a record (pics) of documents submitted and be sure the office you are dealing with understand what you are requesting and how to reactivate payments upon you return.   We renew our pensionado in a few months and are hoping the “legal”  temporary suspension of payments will not negatively affect our renewal … I guess we will find out soon!