The Santiago Ciau Invalidity Case Clarified

As we reported on Wednesday, thirty-seven-year-old Santiago Ciau  Junior sadly passed away earlier this week after a long battle with a debilitating bone condition. Ciau had been a dedicated member of the Belize Police Department since July twenty-third, 2006. However, in March 2023, he was retired by the government due to medical unfitness stemming from a workplace injury in 2009.  Diagnosed with avascular necrosis, Ciau reportedly faced repeated denials for invalidity benefits from the Social Security Board (S.S.B.). Despite his appeals, he said he received a late notification, which prevented him from making a timely second appeal.  Earlier today, the Social Security Board issued a statement clarifying Ciau’s invalidity case.  The S.S.B.’s release says that after reviewing the application and relevant documents, the Medical Board, guided by the Social Security Act, ruled that Mister Ciau did not meet the requirements for invalidity benefits.  Exercising his right to appeal, Mister Ciau took his case to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal on August sixteenth, 2023. This independent body, built into the Act, allows members to challenge the decisions made by the S.S.B. The Tribunal includes a chairman who is an attorney-at-law, along with representatives from employers and employees.  During the appeal hearing, Mister Ciau had the chance to present his case and was represented by an attorney. However, the Tribunal upheld the S.S.B.’s decision. Mister Ciau was informed that he could further appeal to the High Court, but according to our records, no such appeal was made.