Maternity Benefit is payable to insured women who are away from work as a result of pregnancy, up to a period of thirteen weeks.
A pregnant woman:
Must have paid at least twenty weekly contributions immediately before the date of the claim or six weeks before the expected week of confinement.
The maternity allowance and grant form must be completed and signed by claimant and medical practitioner.
It must be returned within six weeks of the date of expected confinement.
Please bear in mind that an insured person should not claim a benefit of this type for any week during which she is at work.
A claimant will be paid sixty-five percent (65%) of her average weekly wages for a maximum of thirteen (13) consecutive weeks.
If you have been paid in full by your employer then your employer will receive the benefit payments.
Average weekly earnings = Total Insurable Earnings⁄30
Weekly rate = Average weekly insurable earnings x 65%
The benefit payable: Daily rate x amount of benefit allowed
e.g.Claimant earnings $1560 per month and 13 weeks are allowed for maternity leave.
Contributions used prior to claim = 30wks
Average weekly insurable earnings = Total Insurable Earnings⁄30 = $1560 x 30 weeks/30 = $10920/30 = $364.00
Weekly rate of benefit = ($364 x 65%) = $236.00
Total Benefit payable: $236.00 x 13 weeks = $3075.80
N.B. The benefit will only be paid to the claimant if she is not receiving full salary from her employer while on leave. However, if the claimant receives a full salary, then the allowance will be paid to the employer.
An insured woman may not receive maternity benefit payment if she:
This is a lump sum payment made to a woman who has given live birth.
A woman or her husband:
Must be between the ages of sixteen and pensionable age.
Has paid or has been credited at least twenty (20) weekly contributions in the thirty (30) weeks immediately before the birth of a child
Maternity grant based on a spouse’s/common law’s contributions will be paid to one woman at any one time. The relationship must be established for at least 3 years (they both must be sharing the same living quarters).
A claim for Maternity Grant must be submitted within 28 days of the birth of the baby.
After confinement, the NIS certificate of confinement must be completed and signed by a medical practitioner or registered midwife, and submitted to the National Insurance Office within 28 days of the birth of the baby.
The form must be stamped by the hospital.
The current Maternity Grant is a single lump sum payment of $660.00 for each live birth.
An insured woman may not receive maternity grant if she:
Failure to submit a medical certificate at the request of the Director