Sickness Benefit
The National Insurance Sickness Benefit is paid to an insured person who is incapable of working because of sickness or who is suspected of having a contagious disease and is so certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
The benefit is not paid if incapacity is caused by an accident arising out of and in the course of employment. The insured person may however be entitled to the Employment Injury Benefit if this occurs.
An insured person who is sick and between 16 and 65 years, who suffers a loss of earnings as a result of illness or contagious disease for 4 or more days. The insured person must have made a minimum of (10) contributions in the 13 weeks immediately prior to the week in which the incapacity started.
This benefit is not available to persons between 60 and 65 years, who are in receipt of the Retirement Pension or who have received a Retirement Grant and returned to work.
A claim must be submitted via an online appointment within three (3) months of onset of illness or loss of earnings whichever is later.
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.
NI15 Sickness Benefit Claim Form
N15A Medical Certificate for Continuing Illness
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.
- Birth certificate (if not previously submitted).
- A Marriage Certificate is required for a married woman whose name has changed since her registration, and a completed NI 182 (Change of Particulars of the Insured Person) where necessary.
- Foreign medicals will only be accepted where the duration, start date of illness and nature of incapacity 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.
How Much Will Be Paid?
The payment is determined by the average of the 10 highest contributions in the 13 weeks immediately preceding the week in which the incapacity commenced. The earnings class to which this average value relates is the class in which the benefit will be paid.
The value of your benefit will be the maximum benefit rate payable in the corresponding earnings class if your loss of earnings is equal to or exceeds that benefit rate. Where loss of earnings is less than the maximum rate payable in the said class then the value of the benefit will be equal to your actual loss of earnings.
The Benefit is paid from the first day of incapacity to a maximum of 52 weeks if you are certified ill and incapable of working and lose earnings.
The Board will credit contributions for each week or part thereof in which the insured person is paid sickness benefit. The benefit credits will ensure that your loss of earnings does not affect the entitlement to any further benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
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