The Barbados National Insurance Scheme, in broad terms, covers all working people who are sixteen (16) years of age and under sixty-five (65), whether they are self-employed or engaged under contract of service in Barbados. Persons who are under sixteen (16) or over sixty-five (65) are covered only for employment injury.

Insured persons are covered up to the first $715 per week of earning in the case of weekly paid employees and $3,100 per month in the case of monthly paid employees. All employed persons regardless of age are covered for Employment Injury Benefit and the employers are responsible for paying that element of contribution.

All benefit payments are made by cheque.  Cheques may be cashed at the Post Office, any commercial bank or at the National Insurance Office. A cheque is valid for six  (6) months from the date printed on it.  In the event that a cheque is lost or mislaid and has to be replaced before the six months have expired, the payee is required to complete a Deed of Indemnity.  This simply means that the payee accepts full responsibility to repay the National Insurance Scheme once the cheque has been found to be cashed. 

All benefits to which one has title must be claimed promptly. In some cases one is allowed four (4) days to claim. Details of time allowed for claiming the respective benefit may be obtained from the National Insurance Department. If one does not claim a benefit within the time allowed, one may be disqualified for a period, but in some cases one may lose the entire benefit. If one is unsure whether one has title to a benefit, one should submit a claim.

All claim forms must be duly completed. It is important that one's national registration number, that is the I.D. card number, as well as the national insurance number be filled in appropriately.

Currently pensioners whose pensions are paid to a relative or friend on their behalf or whose pensions are deposited to a bank account are required to submit a life certificate to the NIS  Office every two (2) months.