Organization : National Insurance Scheme (NIS)
Facility : Disablement Benefit and Grant
Country : Barbados
Website : https://www.nis.gov.bb/employee-injury/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-3
How is Disablement Benefit Computed?
The disablement benefit payable is calculated by reference to the percentage loss of faculty suffered, the weekly amount of benefit payable or would have been payable as injury benefit, and the length of time disablement is assessed to last. For example, a total loss of sight, according to the schedule of prescribed degrees of disablement constitutes 100% disablement and the disablement benefit payable in such a case would be at the same rate as injury benefit, that is, 90% of average insurable weekly earnings. Benefit in respect of disablement of under 100% would be proportionately less.
Related / Similar Facility : NIS Barbados Unemployment Benefit
Who Can Apply For Disablement Benefit?
To qualify for disablement benefit, a person must be suffering from a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an employment accident or a prescribed disease which arose out of or in the course of employment. This benefit is not available to an insured person until at least three (3) days have passed after the relevant accident.
If a person has been off work as a result of an employment injury or a prescribed disease, he may qualify for disablement benefit after 52 weeks from the date of the relevant accident or after he has ceased to receive injury benefit, whichever event occurs first. Disablement Benefits payments maybe increased as a result of Employment Injury (E.I.) calculations.
How to Assess the Degrees of Disablement?
Assessment of degree of disablement is made by a medical authority after examination of the claimant. The assessment may be provisional or final depending on whether or not the condition of the person has stabilized. If the degree of disablement suffered is less than 1%, the claimant is deemed not to have suffered disablement.
Where the degree of disablement is assessed at 30% or more, disablement benefit is payable in the form ofa weekly disablement pension. Payment for assessment of less than 30% is made in the form of a lump sum disablement grant. If the disablement is permanent (e.g. loss of an arm) pension will be payable for life, but if the loss of faculty is temporary, it is payable for a limited period only.
When a person receiving disablement benefit for an assessment of less than 100% enters hospital for treatment of the injury or disease, or becomes incapable of work as a result of the injury or disease within five (5) years from the date of the accident or development of the disease, the disablement benefit is increased to an amount which would be payable if the assessment were 100%.
Constant Attendance Allowance
An additional allowance (known as “a constant attendance allowance”) may be paid to an injured person whose disablement is 100% and who requires the constant help of another person. This allowance is equal to one-half of the disablement pension.