26
Hubert B. Dolsingh, H.B.M (Gold)
Independent National Insurance Consultant
T
he payment of National Insurance benefits
is determined by the amount of weekly
contributions credited to your account by the
National Insurance Board (NIB). You earn one
contribution for each week or part thereof while
you are engaged in insurable employment. The
contribution is paid by both the employer and the
employee.
Contributions are credited to your account by age credit,
employment credit, voluntary credit and benefit credit.
Therefore, I wish to remind you to obtain a copy of a
statement of contributions at least once per year from any of
NIB’s service centres at no cost to you.
In my 41 years as an Independent NIS Consultant, I have
not yet seen a correct statement. If you discover errors,
please notify NIB immediately and provide the relevant
documentary evidence to have it corrected.
By the end of 2013, NIB would be 2,178 contribution weeks
in operation. From April 10, 1972 to June 30, 1991, the
payment of contributions was evidenced by the affixation of
NIS stamps on five coloured cards. This period accounted
for 1,003 contribution weeks. Thereafter, payments were
made directly to NIB. When you file your application for
Retirement benefit you are required to furnish NIB with your
employment record from April 10, 1972 to date.
Anybody who has ever had to conduct a transaction
at NIB knows the problems that dog the process. All
administrative expenses incurred to operate NIB are paid
from your contributions. Each year a percentage of the total
contribution revenue is deducted to meet those expenses; I
wish to remind you, that NIB does NOT offer free services.
The following is a guide of the minimum amount of
contributions you require to qualify for benefits payable
under the Scheme:-
(1) FUNERAL GRANT
– 25 contributions earned anytime
between the ages of 16 and 65 years.
(2) SICKNESS BENEFIT
– you must have at least 10
contributions within the 13 weeks immediately preceding
your first week of incapacity where you suffer loss of
income.
(3) MATERNITY ALLOWANCE
- you must have a credit of at
least 10 paid contributions within the 13 weeks prior to the
sixth week of the week of your expected date of delivery.
PAYMENT OF
BENEFITS IS BASED ON
CONTRIBUTIONS
(4) EMPLOYMENT INJURY BENEFIT
–
only 1 contribution is required, that is
the week in which you have suffered
the injury. However, if the week before
is a higher rate of contribution then that
week shall be used for the payment of the
benefit.
(5) SURVIVOR’S PENSION
– the
deceased insured person must have to his/
her credit not less than 50 contributions if
he/she dies before the age of 60 years or was the recipient of
a retirement pension.
(6) INVALIDITY PENSION
- you must be between the
ages of 19 and 60 years and be medically certified that
your incapacity shall continue for at least one year and that
you are unable to perform any type of employment. You
must at least meet at least one of the following contribution
requirements:-
(a) Where you have made a minimum of 150 contributions,
50 of which must be earned during the three years
immediately preceding the beginning of your incapacity; or
(b) you must have at least 250 contributions credited to your
account within the seven years immediately preceding the
incapacity; or
(c) where you have to your credit at least 750 contributions
during your employment between April 10, 1972 and the
first week of your incapacity.
Where your INVALIDITY does not cease at the age of 60
years, you shall then qualify to receive your RETIREMENT
PENSION whether or not you have made the minimum of
750 contributions.
(7) RETIREMENT BENEFIT
- this benefit falls under two
categories, either a PENSION or a GRANT. To qualify for
you must be 65 years old whether or not you are engaged
in insurable employment. However, you can file your
benefit before age 65 years but not before age 60 years
and provided that you have ceased to be in insurable
employment. Once you are the recipient of a pension
you can resume employment and your pension shall
continue to be paid to you. Where you have not made 750
contributions, you shall be entitled to a GRANT which is a
lump sum payment; the grant is calculated at three times the
total amount of contributions credited to your account but
not less than $3,000.
If I can be of any help in explaining any issue that I may
have failed to expand on enough, please let me know. I shall
be grateful to you for any suggestions you may want to share
with me for improving this Column. For a free consultation,
please contact me at 625 4636.
