General Benefits

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: Up to 40 weeks.
To Qualify: Claimant must have paid:
  1. 13 contributions in the 26 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR
  2. 26 contributions in the 52 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR
  3. 26 contributions in the immediate preceding contribution year.

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:
  1. 13 contributions in the 26 weeks immediately before the week the illness started; OR
  2. 26 contributions in the 40 weeks immediately before the week she either stops work or has the baby; OR
  3. 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.

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.
Rate: 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.

Retirement Benefit - A monthly payment made to insured persons who have retired from gainful employment or who have attained age 70 years.
Rate: A range of 15 - 60% of average insured wages or income depending on number of contributions paid and or credited.
To Qualify: Must have paid at least 150 weeks of contributions. Full benefit is paid from age 65 years, but persons have the option of retiring from as early as 60 years with a reduced rate.

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: $1,500.00
To Qualify: Either the deceased person or his/her spouse must have paid at least 50 weeks of contributions.

Survivors' 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:
  1. widow/widower
  2. dependent children (biological, adopted, stepchildren) of the deceased under age 16 years, or up to age 21 years if still in full-time school;
  3. 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;
  4. unmarried orphans under age 16 years, or up to age 21 years if still in full-time school; and
  5. the parents of the deceased.