As an employee, you should already have a National Insurance Registration Card, with your National Insurance (NIS) number printed on it.

Here’s some useful information about your card and number:

1. Keep your card in a safe place.

2. If you lose your card, ask the National Insurance Office for a new one right away.

3. You don’t need to re-register if you change jobs just let your new employer know that you already have a National Insurance number.

4. Your number remains the same even if you change jobs several times.

Here are a few things you should know:

In general

Insured persons are covered up to the first $1,219 (per week) of earnings or $5,280 (per month) of earnings.

If your pension is paid to a friend or relative, or deposited to a bank account, you’ll need to submit a life certificate to the National Insurance and Social Security Service every six (6) months: June and December of each year.

About Claiming benefits

You must claim your benefits as soon as possible. Otherwise you may be disqualified or even lose the entire benefit.

Fill out your claim form completely and correctly. Ensure that your national registration number (I.D. card number) and your NIS number are filled in correctly.

About benefit cheques

Benefits are paid by cheque, which can be cashed at any commercial bank. If the payment of a short-term benefit cheque is up to $1,750, you can cash it at any Post Office or the National Insurance and Social Security Service.

Your cheque is valid for six (6) months from the date of the cheque.

If your benefit cheque gets lost or misplaced and must be replaced before the 6 months has expired, you are required to visit the Accounts section. You would also need to provide valid identification and sign a document which states the cheque needs to be replaced.

For a benefit cheque that gets misplaced and later found beyond 6 months for which the cheque is valid, you should return the cheque and apply to have the sum reissued to ease the considerable hardship the loss would have caused.