Invalidity Benefit
The National Insurance Invalidity Benefit is paid to an insured person who is medically certified as an invalid and who has made the required number of contributions to the system.
An invalid is a person who is likely to remain incapable of working for a period of not less than 12 months because of a specific disease or bodily or mental disablement.
Insured persons who are under the age of 60 and certified as an invalid by a medical practitioner, and who have made any of the following mix of contributions to the system:-
- Made a minimum of 150 contributions, 50 of which must have been made during the 3 years immediately preceding the start of incapacity; or
- Made 250 contributions in the 7 years immediately preceding the start of incapacity; or
- Made 750 contributions or more.
A claim must be submitted via an online appointment (you must apply for the benefit) within 13 weeks (3 months) of the first day of being certified as being an invalid by your doctor.
Time Frames
|
0 – 3 Months |
Claim on time and can be accepted |
|
3 – 12 Months |
Claim late and may be accepted with good cause |
|
12 Months and over |
Claim late and shall be disallowed |
Late Applications
You must apply on time to ensure that you receive your benefit. Failure to submit your claim to the NIBTT within 3 months of the start of your illness or loss of income can result in you losing all or part of your benefit. You may lose any period that is more than 3 months earlier than the date on which the NIBTT receives your claim unless you can show there was good cause for the delay in submission. Your explanation must be submitted in writing. Even with good cause you may still lose your benefit.
Even with good cause, if your claim is made more than 12 months after the start of your illness or loss of earnings, the benefit shall be forfeited.
To submit a claim, you must first book an appointment through our Web Appointment Portal.
To ensure that your claim is accurately submitted to the NIBTT for processing, follow the Claim Guidelines when completing all claim forms before your appointment date.
NI38 – Invalidity Benefit Claim Form
To complete the form you must: –
- Complete Section A of the Form.
- Take the form to your medical practitioner who must complete Section B.
- Take the completed form together with supporting documents to the Service Centre.
USE OF NATIONAL INSURANCE FORMS
Whenever you perform National Insurance functions under the National Insurance Act or Regulations, you must accurately complete the specific National Insurance forms that are designed so that you can give all the information required.
All of these forms are available FREE of charge at any National Insurance Service Centre or are downloadable.
Supporting Documentation
- Your Birth certificate if not previously submitted.
- Any supporting affidavit or Deed Poll (to support your given or acquired name).
- Marriage Certificate is required for a married woman whose name has changed since her registration with the National Insurance System.
- A Decree Absolute from a divorced woman where necessary.
- Foreign medicals will only be accepted where the duration, start date of illness and ailment are clearly stated and the attending doctor signs, dates and stamps the form. Such medicals must be accompanied by a letter of authentication from a Trinidad and Tobago High Commission or Embassy in the country in which the treatment was received. The responsibility for authenticating the status of the attending doctor rests with the insured.
- Original and copy of a valid PICTURE ID of both the claimant and the person submitting the claim on behalf of the claimant (where applicable) is required for acceptance of the claim.
Alternative Evidence of Date of Birth
Where you are unable to submit your Birth Certificate, the NIBTT may in special circumstances accept, as alternative evidence of age, documents for which the presentation of a Birth Certificate maybe a requirement for issue. These will include: –
- A valid passport.
- A valid driver’s permit.
- A valid Electoral Identification Card.
- Naturalisation records.
- Baptismal certificate (registered within 1 year of birth).
- Religious records.
- School Records.
- Armed Forces discharge record.
- Self-sworn affidavit (as a last resort).
Alternative Evidence of Employment
Where contributions may be outstanding on your behalf, you may be asked to supply alternative evidence of employment such as:
- TD4 slips.
- Pay slips.
- Record of service for computing employment-related Retiring Benefits (daily and monthly paid public servants).
- Pension and Leave Records.
- Record of service for computing severance benefit.
- Letter from employer providing detailed information.
- Assessment Notice from the Board of Inland Revenue.
How Much Will Be Paid?
The value of your Invalidity Benefit will be determined by the average rate of all the contributions you have paid based on the contribution requirements outlined in the section.
The earnings class to which this average rate corresponds is the class in which your benefit will be paid.
Where you have paid more than 750 contributions, one increment will be added to the basic invalidity pension for every block of 25 additional contributions paid in excess of 750. If your invalidity has not ceased by the time you have reached 60 years, you may apply for the retirement pension at age 60 whether or not you have made 750 contributions.
Where you have made less than 750 contributions, including benefit credits, the Retirement Pension will be paid at the same rate as the Invalidity Pension.
Where you have made more than 750 contributions, including benefit credits, your Retirement Pension will be calculated and paid in accordance with the NI Act, and the basic Retirement Pension will be enhanced by increments as applicable.
Where you may have qualified for Invalidity Benefit prior to May 3, 1999 and your incapacity does not cease at age 60 years, you will be paid Retirement Pension, from age 60, in the same amount paid as Invalidity Pension.
While you are receiving the Invalidity Benefit you will receive benefit credits from the NIBTT as if you were on the job and contributing to the system. These contributions will be awarded in the same earnings class in which your benefit is paid. The benefit credits will help to ensure that your loss of earnings does not affect your entitlement to the retirement pension.
Frequently Asked Questions
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