First law: 1937 (social assistance).
Current law: 1966 (social insurance), with 2002 amendment.
Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance system.
Social insurance: All employed persons, public-sector employees, and the self-employed aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Unpaid family labor.
Social assistance: Residents aged 65 or older; aged 18 or older and incapable of work because of defective eyesight or serious hearing and speech problems.
Insured person: 7.43% to 8.25% of earnings.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
The insured's contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits.
Self-employed person: 14.5% of quarterly earnings.
The minimum annual earnings for contribution purposes are B$1,092.
The self-employed person's contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits.
Employer: 7.43% to 9% of payroll.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
The employer's contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits.
Government: None; contributes as an employer.
Insured person: None.
Self-employed person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: Total cost.
Old-age pension: Age 65.5 with 500 weeks of contributions, including at least 150 weeks of paid contributions.
Early pension: Age 62 and no longer employed or self-employed.
Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred until age 70.
Old-age grant: Age 65.5 with at least 50 but not more than 499 contributions.
Old-age benefits are payable abroad.
Disability pension: Younger than age 65, with at least 150 weeks of contributions, and incapable of any work. The degree of incapacity for work is assessed periodically by a National Insurance Office doctor.
Disability grant: Younger than age 65, with at least 50 but not more than 149 contributions, and incapable of any work. The degree of incapacity for work is assessed periodically by a National Insurance Office doctor.
Disability benefits are not payable abroad.
Survivor pension: The deceased had at least 150 weeks of paid contributions.
Eligible survivors are a
Funeral grant: The deceased had at least 50 weeks of paid contributions.
Survivor benefits are payable abroad.
Noncontributory old-age pension: Age 65, satisfies the residency conditions, and does not meet the qualifying conditions for a social insurance pension.
Noncontributory disability pension (income-tested): Aged 18 or older, satisfies the residency conditions, is assessed as incapable of work as the result of being certified as blind or severe hearing and speech problems, and earns less than B$36 a week.
Old-age pension: The pension is equal to 40% of average insurable earnings, plus 1% of earnings for each
Average earnings are based on earnings in the best 5 years in the last 15 years; if the number of years worked is less than 5 years, the average is based on total earnings.
The maximum earnings for benefit calculation purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
The minimum weekly pension is B$110.
The maximum pension is equal to 60% of average insurable earnings.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost of living.
Old-age grant: A lump sum equal to 6 weeks' earnings for each
Noncontributory old-age pension: The minimum weekly pension is B$90.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost of living.
Disability pension: The pension is equal to 40% of average annual insurable earnings, plus 1% of earnings for each
Average earnings are based on earnings in the best 5 years in the last 15 years; if the number of years worked is less than 5 years, the average is based on total earnings.
The maximum earnings for benefit calculation purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
The minimum weekly pension is B$110.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost of living.
Disability grant: A lump sum equal to 6 weeks' average insurable earnings for each
Noncontributory disability pension (income-tested): The minimum weekly pension is B$90.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost of living.
Survivor pension: The pension is equal to 50% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased if the widow(er) is aged 50 or older and was married to the deceased for at least 3 years. A limited pension is paid for 12 months to a
Orphan's pension: Each child younger than age 16 (age 21 if student, no limit if disabled before age 16) receives 16.6% of the deceased's pension; 33.3% if a full orphan or disabled.
Funeral grant: B$1,400 is payable to the person who pays for the funeral of the insured or of the insured's spouse.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost of living.
Ministry of Labor is responsible for policy.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office (http://www.nis.gov.bb) administers the program.
First and current law: 1966 (social insurance).
Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.
All employed persons, public-sector employees, and the self-employed aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Unpaid family labor. Permanent government employees are not covered for cash sickness benefits.
Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Self-employed person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Cash sickness benefits: Must have 13 weeks of insurance coverage, including 7 weeks of paid contributions in the last quarter but one before the quarter in which the onset of incapacity began, and be employed immediately before the onset of incapacity; at least 39 paid or credited contributions in the four consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the quarter of the onset of incapacity.
Cash maternity benefits: Employed women must have 26 weeks of insurance coverage, including 16 weeks of paid contributions in the two consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the quarter in which the benefit is paid.
Self-employed women must have at least 39 weeks of contributions in the four consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the quarter in which the benefit is paid; 16 weeks of paid contributions in the two consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the quarter in which the benefit is paid.
Maternity grant: Payable for a woman who is not insured or who fails to meet the coverage requirements for cash maternity benefits but whose spouse does meet the requirements.
Funeral grant: Payable for the death of an insured person who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, sickness benefits or maternity benefits.
Sickness benefit: The benefit is equal to 66.6% of average insurable weekly earnings and is payable after a
Maternity benefit: The benefit is equal to 100% of average insurable weekly earnings and is payable for up to 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the expected date of childbirth.
Funeral grant: B$1,400 is payable to the person who pays for the cost of the funeral.
Maternity grant: A lump sum of B$800.
Medical benefits: No statutory benefits are provided.
Free medical care is available in public hospitals and health centers.
Medical benefits for dependents: No statutory benefits are provided.
Free medical care is available in public hospitals and health centers.
Ministry of Labor is responsible for policy.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office (http://www.nis.gov.bb) administers the program.
First law: 1916 (workmen's compensation).
Current law: 1966 (social insurance).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
All employed persons, public-sector employees, and some categories of fishermen aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Self-employed persons and unpaid family labor.
Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Self-employed person: Not applicable.
Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.
Government: None; contributes as an employer.
Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.
The benefit is equal to 90% of average insurable earnings and is payable after a
Permanent disability pension: For a total disability, the pension is equal to 90% of the insured's average earnings.
The degree of disability is assessed by the insured's doctor and may be reviewed by National Insurance Office doctors.
Constant-attendance supplement: Equal to 50% of the pension.
Partial disability: A percentage of the full pension is paid according to the assessed degree of disability.
A lump sum is paid if the assessed degree of disability is less than 30%.
Benefits include reimbursement of expenses for medical, surgical, dental, and hospital treatment; nursing care; medicines; appliances; and transportation.
Survivor pension: 50% of the deceased's temporary disability benefit is payable to a dependent spouse.
The pension ceases on remarriage or cohabitation.
Remarriage settlement: A lump sum equal to a year's pension is paid.
Orphan's pension: Each child younger than age 16 receives 16.6% of the deceased's temporary disability benefit; 33.3% if a full orphan or disabled. There is no age limit for a disabled orphan.
The maximum survivor pension is 100% of the deceased's temporary disability benefit.
Funeral grant: B$1,400 is payable to the person who pays for the insured's funeral.
Ministry of Labor is responsible for policy.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office (http://www.nis.gov.bb) administers the program.
First and current law: 1981 (social insurance).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Employees aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Self-employed persons, family labor, and permanent government employees.
Insured person: 0.75% of earnings.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
Self-employed person: Not applicable.
Employer: 0.75% of payroll.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$736 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,190 a month for employees paid monthly.
Government: None; contributes as an employer.
Unemployment benefit: Must be younger than age 65 with 52 weeks of insurance coverage; at least 20 weeks of paid or credited contributions in the three consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the onset of unemployment; at least 7 weeks of paid or credited contributions in the last quarter but one before the onset of unemployment.
The benefit is equal to 60% of the insured's average insurable weekly earnings. The benefit is payable after a
Ministry of Labor is responsible for policy.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office (http://www.nis.gov.bb) administers the program.