SHORT TERM BENEFITS

SICKNESS BENEFIT

In order to qualify for this benefit a claimant must have contributed for six months(6) any time in the NIC/NPF. In addition, contributions must have been made for at least two(2) in the last four months(4) immediately preceding the month of sickness.

National Insurance pays no benefit from the first three days and regards a week as six days. The amount paid is 65% of the average insurable earnings. The best two months in the last four. No benefit is paid if the claimant is receiving full wages from his employer. The benefit can be paid for a maximum period of 26 weeks of continuous illness.

MATERNITY BENEFIT

A claimant must have contributed for at least 7 in the last 10 months immediately preceding the month her baby is due and be certified as being pregnant by a doctor or registered midwife.

The benefit is calculated by taking the average of the best seven months in the last ten and it is 65% of these insurable earnings.

The period of payment for a maternity benefit is (3)three months, ONLY IF YOU LOSE EARNINGS. There is also a maternity grant of $600.00 paid to the mother or to a husband / common-law husband if the wife is not a contributor, but her spouse is.

National Insurance also pays a fee of $100 to the hospital in respect of every contributor who delivers a baby there. In addition all hospitalization /medical costs associated with an inpatient are met by National Insurance.

EMPLOYMENT INJURY -

This benefit needs no qualifying conditions. Should a claimant get injured on the very first day at work, he is entitled to benefit, once it can be ascertained that he was in insurable employment and would have contributed to the National Insurance.

The rate of benefit is 65% of the daily rate of the employee, or the daily rate he would have received for a full days work

The benefit can be paid for a maximum of 52 weeks and there are provisions where a disablement grant is paid if the employee suffers any permanent disablement.

All medical fees associated with the injury will be paid by National Insurance up to a limit of EC $20,000.00

FUNERAL GRANT

A funeral grant provides a measure of financial relief to the person who has met the funeral expenses of a deceased insured person. The grant is worth $1,750.00. The insured person must have satisfied conditions for any benefit or, paid at least six(6) months contribution in the twelve(12) months prior to death or paid contributions equivalent to the amount of the funeral grant.

LONG TERM BENEFITS

AGE PENSION

Effective January 1, 2006-2008 (click here for more information), a claimant needs to have contributed for at least 13 years or 156 months in the Corporation and must be at least sixty-two years.

A pension is paid every month for life and when the pensioner dies, it is converted to a Survivor's Pension, if there are dependents who qualify for this benefit. Should the claimant have less than thirteen years or 156 months, he will receive a grant which is a lump-sum payment. If after calculation of a pension the figure is less than $200.00, it will be increased to $200.00, which is the minimum pension paid by the Corporation.

SURVIVORS PENSION

If an insured person dies before receiving his pension or while receiving a pension, his dependents will be entitled to receive his pension.

Dependents are usually regarded as husband/wife, children and in some cases aged parents or grandparents. If the husband/wife is 55 years and over, he/she will receive 75% of his/her pension entitlement for life or until he/she remarries or lives with a man/woman as his wife/husband.

If she is under 60 years, she will receive the same amount for a year, however if after that period she has children of the deceased under sixteen years in her care, she will receive her pension until these children are over the age, providing that she does not remarry or cohabit. If she does, she will forfeit her share but the children will receive theirs.

INVALIDITY PENSION

The Invalidity Benefit is payable to a person who is unable to work as a result of a specific disease or disablement (bodily or emotional) which is likely to remain permanent, and is not caused as a result of employment injury.

To be eligible a person must:-

• be an invalid otherwise than as a result of Employment Injury.
• have paid contributions for not less than 60 months. 36 of these months must be in the last 72 months immediately preceding the month of invalidity.
• be under Pensionable age.
• not be in receipt of Sickness Benefit

The benefits consist of:-

1. A monthly allowance which is paid for as long as the invalidity continues or a
2. Grant, paid if a claimant has insufficient contributions for a pension