NIB has now paid over 34 thousand unemployment benefit (UEB) claimants over $60 million in benefits. This number continues to grow daily.
Most recipients have received 8 to 10 weeks of benefit, as NIB prepares to process payments up to the 13-weeks maximum over the next week for many recipients. However, NIB has found a number of cases where the benefit has been suspended automatically in the system, pending manual verifications of continued unemployment or because contributions continued to be paid by the employer following the lay off dates. In many cases, the contributions had been paid in error and the benefit payments will be allowed to proceed. To address these matters, NIB has been working closely with its IT vendor to make the necessary changes which are expected to be resolved by the end of this week.
NIB reminds its customers that the unemployment benefit is paid at the rate of 50% of the average insured wages for a period of up to 13 weeks. The maximum unemployment weekly benefit is therefore $335 per week, that is 50% of wage ceiling of $670. The wage ceiling is adjusted biennially to keep pace with inflation. NIB has fielded a number of complaints from customers in this regard.
NIB also advises that customers are only eligible for the unemployment benefit (UEB) if they have at least 52 contributions filed with NIB, and meet the contribution criteria. Customers are ineligible for the unemployment benefit if they are age 65 years or older.
NIB has noted the increase in complaints with respect to unemployment payments and advises that a team has been established to review each complaint received and to advise the customer accordingly. This process is in addition to our normal Customer Feedback channels. Claimants are asked to contact UEBresolution@nib-bahamas.com to register their complaint.
NIB also requests all claimants who have not yet received unemployment payments since submitting an application to contact NIB at UEBresolution@nib-bahamas.com urgently so that NIB can bring resolution to your matter. If your claim is approved, NIB will pay the full period that you have been unemployed (up to 13 weeks) and you will continue to remain eligible for any government unemployment assistance extension.
For all other inquiries, customers may contact NIB via WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, and other channels detailed on our contact infographics found on NIB website under COVID19 Updates link: www.nib-bahamas.com/NIB-BAHAMAS-COVID-19-Alerts.
