Benefits and Assistance

Benefits and Assistances

The National Insurance Board provides ten (10) cash benefits, four (4) cash assistances and one “benefit-in-kind”. The benefits are paid in respect of Sickness, Maternity, Funeral, Retirement, Invalidity, Survivorship, Unemployment, Injury, Disablement and Death. The assistances are the Old Age Non-Contributory Pension, Invalidity, Survivors’ and Sickness.

Benefits are awarded to insured persons who meet prescribed contribution conditions; assistances are awarded to needy Bahamian residents who do not qualify for a particular benefit, and only after the application of the “test-of-resources”.

Verification Requirements Short-term Unemployment Benefit Verification

Unemployment Benefit verification is required monthly after the claim has been approved and until the 13 weeks of payment expires.

Certification by the Department of Labour

Each month, the claimant is required to certify with the Department of Labour (DOL) that they are still unemployed and seeking employment. Once these conditions are still true, the claimant will receive a stamped and signed NIB Unemployment Benefit (UEB) Card.

Submission of the NIB Short-term Unemployment Benefit Form

Once certified by the Labour department, the claimant will present the UEB card to the National Insurance Board’s Verification Department to be verified.

Change in Circumstance Eligibility

If there has been a change in circumstance that impacts continuing eligibility to receive the UEB, the Director must be notified in writing as soon as practicable after the occurrence of any such change of circumstances. Failure to do so, without good cause, is an offence and carries a summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, ($100.00). Changes in circumstance include:

If the claimant has moved outside of The Bahamas during the benefit period
If the claimant has failed to be available (as defined by the DOL) and looking for work during the benefit period
If the claimant refused suitable employment
If the claimant became employed or self-employed
If the claimant failed to report to the DOL’s Employment Exchange every 4 weeks to check on the availability of suitable employmentIf the claimant failed to adhere to recommendations made by the Director of Labour as provided for in the National Insurance Regulations

Long-term Benefits and Assistances Verification

All beneficiaries of long-term monthly benefits and assistances are required to verify with the National Insurance Board twice a year, i.e., produce notarized documentation in evidence of their continuing eligibility for the payments. Such verification must be effected during the beneficiary’s birth month and six months thereafter. Long-term benefits and assistances include: Retirement Benefit, Old Age Non Contributory Pension, Industrial Death Benefit, Survivors Benefit and Assistance and Invalidity Benefit and Assistance and Disablement Benefit.

Long-term pension Benefit verification Form B.75b and Assistance Form B.75a may be collected from the nearest local office, downloaded from the https://www.nib-bahamas.com/_m1722/forms-library or are available in New Providence at select locations. Click here for a complete list of all locations. Forms should be completed in its entirety and certified by a Sanctioned Authority.

Certification by Sanctioned Authority

Long-term benefits and assistances forms are required to be certified by a Sanctioned Authority. NIB list of sanctioned authority:

A senior public officer (i.e. First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Under Secretary, Director or Permanent Secretary, etc.)
An ordained Minister of Religion (Priest)
Bank Manager
Magistrate
Counsel or Attorney
Justice of the Peace
Notary Public
If you reside outside The Bahamas, the authority may be a Notary Public, Lawyer, or Chief of Police.

Change in Circumstance Eligibility

A change in circumstance that impacts eligibility for long-term benefits and assistances should be indicated when completing the verification benefit or assistance form to avoid processing delay or suspension of payments. The verification process helps NIB to determine if a claimant is alive; as well as confirming the following:

Determining the marital status of a surviving spouse or if the surviving spouse’s wage levels changed?
Determining if the guardian of a dependent child/orphan still has custody of the child?
Determining if the Invalidity claimant resumed employment since the award of the Benefit/Assistance?
Determining the wage of any Assistance claimant who is employed?
Determining the wage of a Retired claimant under the age of 65 and still employed?

If the circumstances which initially caused the Benefit or Assistance to be awarded change, the Director must be notified in writing as soon as practicable after the occurrence of any such change of circumstances. Failure to do so, without good cause, is an offence and carries a summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, ($100.00).

Submission of NIB Pension Verification Form

Pensioners are reminded that verification forms are accepted one month before, and as late as, one month following their scheduled month to verify. There are several options available to submit NIB verification forms:

E-mail to verification@nib-bahamas.com
Courier or Mail to The Pensions Department, The National Insurance Board, P. O. Box N-7508, Nassau, Bahamas
Administrators of Senior Homes may submit a list of pensioners to NIB via email at verification@nib-bahamas.com Retirement verification may be completed online via the Registrant Self Service portal.

Suspension of Long-term Benefits and Assistances

Benefit/Assistance payments will be suspended for failure to verify within the prescribed time frames. If the Benefit/Assistance is suspended for failure to verify, it can take up to two months before payments can begin again.

Declaration

Further, any person or third party who, for the purpose of obtaining a Short-term or Long-term Benefit or Assistance, knowingly makes false statements or submits false documents, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $2,500 or to imprisonment for up to twelve months or both.

Biennial Adjustments to Pensions, Grants, and the Wage Ceiling

Every 2 years, based on the 2010 Amendments to the National Insurance Regulations, there is an automatic increase which affects pensions, specified grants and the wage ceiling.

The next increase is effective July 1, 2026. It should be noted that the adjustments are not an increase in the Contribution rates, which is also scheduled to change this year, effective July 1 (visit nibrateincrease.com for information). The National Insurance (NI) Contribution rates are a percentage of an insured person’s wages paid to the National Insurance Fund. The Insurable Wage adjustments ensure that workers can insure more of their income and that Benefits stay in line with inflation.

For more information on the 2024 adjustments to pensions and grants click here.

Short-term Benefits and Grants

Unemployment Benefit

A weekly payment made to eligible insured persons who are unemployed but actively looking for employment. It is not paid to self-employed persons, voluntarily insured persons, summer students or persons who are partially employed, i.e., on reduced work days.

Rate: 50% of the unemployed worker’s average weekly insurable income.

Period: Paid so long as unemployment continues to a maximum period of 13 weeks within a 52 week period.

To Qualify: Must be younger than age 65 years of age and able to satisfy the Department of Labour’s conditions for registration. In addition, at the date unemployment began, must have been able to satisfy three contribution conditions:

Paid at least 52 contributions into the National Insurance Programme since it started in 1974; AND
Paid and/or been credited with at least 13 contributions in the 26 weeks immediately before the week in which you were last employed: AND
Paid and/or been credited with at least 7 contributions in the 13 weeks immediately before the week in which you were last employed.

Funeral Benefit

A one-time payment made to the person who has paid or is responsible to pay the funeral expenses of a deceased insured person.

Rate: $2,060.00 (as of July 1, 2024)

To Qualify: Either the deceased person or his/her spouse must have paid at least 50 weeks of contributions.

Maternity Benefit and Grant

Maternity Benefit

A weekly payment made to eligible insured women while they remain at home during late pregnancy and confinement.

Rate: 66.66% of average insured wages/income

Period: Up to 13 weeks (could be increased under special, specified circumstances).

To Qualify: Claimant must have paid: 13 contributions in the 26 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR 26 contributions in the 40 weeks immediately before the week she either stops work or has the baby; OR 26 contributions in the immediate preceding contribution year.

Maternity Grant

A one-time payment made to a woman whose pregnancy results in the birth of a live infant; it is paid for each live infant. To qualify she must have paid at least 50 contributions in to National Insurance. If she has not paid the required number of contributions it can still be paid if her husband meets the contribution condition for the award of the Benefit.

Sickness Benefit

A weekly payment made to eligible insured persons while they are temporarily unable to work due to illness.

Rate: 60% of average insured wages

Period: 156 days but can be extended to 40 weeks.

To Qualify: Claimant must have paid: 13 contributions in the 26 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR 26 contributions in the 52 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR 26 contributions in the immediate preceding contribution year.

Long-term Benefits

The monthly rate of payment for the Long-Term Benefits - Invalidity, Retirement and Survivors’ Benefits - varies depending on the total number of paid and/or credited contributions, from a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 60 percent of the insured person’s average weekly insurable wage or income.

Retirement Benefit and Grant

Retirement Benefit

A monthly payment made to insured persons who have retired from gainful employment or who have attained age 65 years. While full benefit is payable from age 65 years, persons have the option of receiving the benefit from as early as 60 years but with a reduced rate.

Benefit rate based on total contributions: A range of 30% - 60% of average insured wages or income depending on number of contributions paid and or credited.

To Qualify: Must have paid at least 500 weeks of contributions.

Retirement Grant

Should you fail to meet the 500 contribution condition for the award of Retirement Benefit, which is a monthly pension, a one time Retirement Grant will be paid to you.

Rate: 6 times average weekly insurable wage for each set of 50 contributions.

(Example: If 250 contributions made and average weekly insurable wage is $400 per week, then Grant = 6 x 5 x $400 = $12,000)

To Qualify: Must have paid at least 150 weeks of contributions and must have attained age 65 years.

Invalidity Benefit

A monthly payment made to eligible insured persons who have been medically certified to be permanently unable to work as a result of illness.A person suffering permanent incapacity as a result of a job-related illness, should claim Disablement Benefit).

Benefit rate based on total contributions: A range of 15% - 60% of average insured wages or income.

To Qualify: Must be younger than 65 years and have paid at least 150 weeks of contributions.

Survivor’s Benefits and Grants

Survivor’s Benefit

A monthly payment made to the dependent survivors of a deceased insured person.

Rate: Payable in varying amounts to qualifying dependents in priority order: widow/widower dependent children (biological, adopted, stepchildren) of the deceased under age 16 years, or up to age 21 years if still in full-time school; unmarried children who are not children of the deceased person, but who were wholly maintained by him/her, under age 16 years, or up to age 21 years if still in full-time school; or who are invalids; unmarried orphans under age 16 years, or up to age 21 years if still in full-time school; and the parents of the deceased.

Survivors’ Grant

A one-time payment made to a widow/widower of a deceased insured person who does not qualify for Survivors Benefit on account of his/her age or lack of dependents.

Rate: One lump sum equal to the annual retirement or invalidity benefit to which the deceased was entitled or would have been entitled.

To Qualify: Must have been married to the deceased for at least one year; deceased should have paid at least 150 contributions.

Industrial Benefits

Under the Industrial Benefits branch, employed persons or all self-employed persons who suffer job-related injury or contract job-related diseases, are eligible for Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit and/or Grant, Industrial Death Benefit, Industrial Funeral Benefit, and free Medical Care. To read more click here.

Assistance Payments

Old Age Non-Contributory Pension, commonly called “Old Age Pension,” is a payment made monthly to needy Bahamian residents age 65 years or older, who do not meet the contribution conditions for Retirement Benefit.

Survivors’ Assistance is a monthly payment made to the needy surviving dependents of an uninsured deceased breadwinner. It is paid in the same priority order as Survivors’ Benefit.

Invalidity Assistance is a monthly payment made to an individual who has been certified by a medical practitioner to be permanently incapable of work due to illness.

Sickness Assistance is a weekly benefit paid to an individual who:

is temporarily unable to work due to illness; and
has paid at least one contribution, but not enough to qualify for Sickness Benefit.

In the case of all assistances, applicants must satisfy a stringent test-of-resources in order to qualify.

Benefits and Assistance

Latest News