What do We Mean by “DISABILITY”
How do You Qualify for Disablement Benefit
How Much is the Disablement Grant
When Does Your Disability Pension Start
How Much Will You Receive
Degree of Disability Disablement Pension
Successive Accidents
Duplicated Rights

This section of the booklet describes the National Insurance Board Disability Benefits. It focuses on benefits for people who have worked or earned sufficient National Insurance credits to qualify for disability. Disability Benefit is one of the most complicated of all the National Insurance benefits; therefore, this booklet may not cover, in depth, all the particulars of the benefit. We recommend that you call or visit one of our offices if you have any additional questions or queries.

What do We Mean by “DISABILITY”

The National Insurance Board’s definition of disability refers to all disabilities that the claimant would be expected to have that will permanently keep him or her from leading a normal life and occurred as a result of a physical or mental condition arising from an industrial accident or some work related illness. All injuries may not lead to 100% disability. For example, there may be a person who, due to an industrial accident, loses two limbs, in which case he or she will be considered 100% disabled; whilst someone might lose hearing in one ear and be considered 20% disabled. Because there are different degrees of disabilities, Disablement Benefit is paid based on the severity of the disability and will only be paid if the degree of disability is more than 10%.

How do You Qualify for Disablement Benefit

There are two types of Disablement Benefits:

• Disablement Pension and
• Disablement Grant

The Medical Board certifies disability and allocates a certain percentage from 1-100% based on its assessment of the disablement. If the claimant’s disability is greater than 10% but less than 20%, the Disablement Benefit will be a single lump-sum payment known as Disablement Grant. If the disability is 20% or more, you will be paid a monthly Disablement Pension.

How Much is the Disablement Grant

The amount of disablement grant will be equal to: 220 x Average Weekly Insurable Earnings x Degree of Disablement.

When Does Your Disability Pension Start

Disability Pension can begin at any time after the 3rd day following the day in which the employment accident occurred. In most cases, however, the claimant receives Injury Benefit during the period his or her injuries are being assessed by the Medical Board. Injury Benefit ceases when a decision is made on the degree of disability. From such time the claimant will receive Disablement Benefit.

How Much Will You Receive

You can obtain a personalized estimate of benefits due you from the Benefit/Records Department of the National Insurance Board. There are also tables available which give the degree of disability prescribed for certain accidents. The general rate is calculated as follows:

Degree of Disability Disablement Pension

(1) 100% 60% of average weekly insurable earnings
(2) 20% or more, but less than 100% The weekly rate of disablement pension will be calculated in proportion to the degree of disablement.

A beneficiary of Disablement Pension who ordinarily receives less than 60% of his or her weekly insurable earnings will be entitled to 60% of average weekly earnings if:

• he or she is receiving approved hospital or treatment related to the accident;
• he or she is attending a course of full-time occupational training or rehabilitation;
• he or she is deemed permanently incapable of work as a result of his or her disablement.

For each full week (Monday thru Saturday) that you receive Disablement Pension assessed at 100%, you are not required to pay a contribution. Instead, National Insurance will add (or credit) contributions to your records. These credited contributions should help you to receive future benefit payments.

Successive Accidents

If you suffer personal injury as a result of an accident on your job and then suffer personal injury as a result of another accident on the job, you will again be entitled to receive Injury Benefit or Disablement Benefit. However, the total amount payable will not be more than 60% of your average weekly insurable earnings.

Duplicated Rights

You will not for the same period be entitled to receive Injury Benefit and Disablement Pension but will receive the benefit which is payable at the higher rate.