NB: Age pensioners and invalidity pensioners cannot receive sickness benefit.
A claim for Sickness Benefit must be supported by a medical certificate given by a medical doctor. The medical certificate must be submitted to the employer.
All sickness claims should be submitted to the NIS, even if granted for three days or less, in the event that there is a subsequent claim that is linked with the first one.
While an insured person is receiving Sickness Benefit, no NIS contributions are due to the NIS. The insured will receive benefit credits, which will entitle the insured person for further benefits relating to sickness, maternity, age pension, invalidity and survivors’ benefit.
An insured person will be paid sixty-five percent (65%) of his/her average weekly wages for up to 26 weeks. Other things affecting payment:
Average weekly earnings = Total Insurable Earnings⁄13
Rate of benefit: 65% of average weekly insured earnings
Benefit payable: Daily rate x amount of benefit allowed
e.g. Claimant earns $560 per week and claims Sickness Benefit for 6 days
Contributions used prior to claim = 13 weeks
Average weekly Insurable Earnings = Total Insurable Earnings/13 = ($560 x 13 weeks)/13 = ($7280)/13 = $560.00
Daily rate = ($560.00 x 65%)/6 = $60.70
Benefit payable: $60.70 x 3 days = $182.00 (3 waiting days have been deducted)
For subsequent claims within an eight week period, the waiting days are not deducted