ssa-gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2014-2015/americas/bahamas.html
2025-02-19 12:17:21 -08:00

252 lines
No EOL
30 KiB
HTML

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en" class="no-js">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
<title>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2015 - Bahamas</title>
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCreated" content="2016-03" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOffice" content="ORDP:ORES" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOwner" content="publications@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coderOffice" content="ORDP:ORES:OD" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coder" content="op.webmaster@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCertified" content="2025-01-01" />
<meta name="description" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/doc.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/global.css" />
<!-- SSA INTERNET HEAD SCRIPTS -->
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-/JqT3SQfawRcv/BIHPThkBvs0OEvtFFmqPF/lYI/Cxo=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.head.js"></script>
<script>(window.BOOMR_mq=window.BOOMR_mq||[]).push(["addVar",{"rua.upush":"false","rua.cpush":"false","rua.upre":"false","rua.cpre":"false","rua.uprl":"false","rua.cprl":"false","rua.cprf":"false","rua.trans":"SJ-3a3bb884-f513-47e3-a86c-84bab05e21dc","rua.cook":"true","rua.ims":"false","rua.ufprl":"false","rua.cfprl":"false","rua.isuxp":"false","rua.texp":"norulematch","rua.ceh":"false","rua.ueh":"false","rua.ieh.st":"0"}]);</script>
<script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n="false"=="true"?1:0,t="cookiepresent",a="eyd7g6aaiaaamjqacqdfqaaaabt3moue-f-8d14d4c7b-clienttons-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"1204614","ak.ai":parseInt("728289",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":14,"ak.ipv":6,"ak.proto":"h2","ak.rid":"95523b5","ak.r":19138,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"2607:f378:40:6::","ak.cport":40604,"ak.gh":"23.60.168.61","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.3","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"","ak.t":"1739995780","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==CBQaT3eHXKlG6zEhZKKLwu2FtdneLwSCt8WSSb6YhkbKQQw5+01iqRx+zoPAsr6wW02kjwJs1VHPohU+BOJ2Kl3PPCVX+g7SznKVYneoAv/+jkgesfbce3ZG27rtaI8L91czsKnW+H2YrNA3erY+fi/c6MuxGAc3VDlpFxTNdTDsbONOUJ4iE+EdqHCEegs3AcCZSdwBjQHaeEhQr2UoxDp7NqFnYD+BqfH9mgiGX7OIpRVWOdtG5EJLL0QCEIcO3lBwn5j6ka+mtNv0WAnrjXHsfUGnP5Z0NGy2gJdZ2hpgKFUFH9tau47IwRCMpYYGxc0hYycxgw0QLUAFJggv4a1/Oun6oRMC8Ugtj+fCO7a9ImuhAyLpn8o/fOVhSfOSWhfinGwKliDcz0r2fU50votlcIEGYWSbmsK9AQUh0rs=","ak.pv":"98","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head>
<body class="ssptw">
<article>
<header>
<div id="hLogo"><a class="navLogo" href="/policy/index.html">Social Security</a><a class="navSearch" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa">SEARCH</a></div>
<div id="hRedBar">
<div id="hDocInfo">
<h1>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2015</h1>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<nav>
<div id="breadcrumbs" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">You are here: <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Administration</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research, Statistics &amp; Policy Analysis</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2015</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></span></div>
<div id="rspaUtil"><ul><li id="mail"><a class="js-ga-event" href="#" rel="nofollow" data-event="outbound-link" data-event-action="click" data-event-label="email-this">Email</a></li><li id="print"><a href="#" rel="nofollow">Save/Print</a></li></ul></div>
</nav>
<div class="innards">
<h1>Bahamas</h1>
<div class="exchangeRate">Exchange rate: <abbr class="spell">US</abbr>$1.00&nbsp;=&nbsp;1.00 Bahamian dollar (B$).</div>
<h2>Old Age, Disability, and Survivors</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First laws:</span> 1956 <span class="nobr">(old-age</span> noncontributory pensions) and 1967 (public assistance for disability).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1972 (national insurance).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance and social assistance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance:</span> Employed and self-employed persons.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage is available.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Social assistance:</span> Residents of the Bahamas.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance:</span> 3.9% of weekly covered earnings. Voluntarily insured persons contribute 5% of weekly average wages or income, based on the insured's wages or income in the year before registration.</p>
<p>The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are B$32,240.</p>
<p>The insured person's mandatory contributions also finance cash sickness, maternity, unemployment, and work injury benefits. The voluntarily insured person's contributions also finance the maternity grant.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Social assistance:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance:</span> 6.8% of covered earnings.</p>
<p>The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are B$32,240.</p>
<p>The self-employed person's contributions also finance cash sickness and maternity benefits.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Social assistance:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance:</span> 5.9% of covered payroll.</p>
<p>The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are B$32,240.</p>
<p>The employer's contributions also finance cash sickness, maternity, work injury, and unemployment benefits.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Social assistance:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance:</span> None; contributes as an employer.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Social assistance:</span> The total cost.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age pension:</span> Age&nbsp;65 with at least 500&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<p>Entitlement ceases if the insured person earns at least B$310 a week.</p>
<p>Early pension: A reduced pension may be paid from age&nbsp;60 to 64 with at least 500&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred up to age&nbsp;69.</p>
<p>The benefit is paid locally for insured persons who live abroad.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age grant:</span> Age&nbsp;65 with at least 150&nbsp;weeks but less than 500&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability pension:</span> Younger than age&nbsp;65, assessed with a permanent incapacity for any work, and has at least 150&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor pension:</span> The deceased received or was entitled to receive an <span class="nobr">old-age</span> or disability pension at the time of death.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include a dependent <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> who was married to the deceased and was disabled or aged&nbsp;40 or older and incapable of gainful employment; a dependent <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> who was caring for a child younger than age&nbsp;16 (age&nbsp;21 if a student, no limit if disabled) at the time of death; a dependent widow who was pregnant with the deceased's child at the time of death; dependent children younger than age&nbsp;16 (age&nbsp;21 if a student, no limit if disabled); and dependent parents who are disabled or aged&nbsp;40 or older and incapable of gainful employment.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor grant:</span> The deceased had&nbsp;at least 150&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions at the time of death.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include a <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> who was married to the deceased for at least a year but who does not meet the age or dependent children requirements for a survivor pension.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Funeral benefit:</span> Paid when an insured person or the spouse of an insured person dies if the insured had at least 50&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Social assistance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Noncontributory <span class="nobr">old-age</span> pension (income tested):</span> Age&nbsp;65, retired, assessed as needy, and does not qualify for the social insurance <span class="nobr">old-age</span> pension.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability assistance (income tested):</span> Assessed with a disability, needy, and does not qualify for the social insurance disability pension.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor assistance (income tested):</span> The deceased did not qualify for a social insurance <span class="nobr">old-age</span> or disability pension.</p>
<h3>Old-Age Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age pension:</span> 30% of the insured's covered wage is paid with at least 500&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions. The pension is increased by 1% of the covered wage for each <span class="nobr">50-week</span> period of paid or credited contributions exceeding 500&nbsp;weeks, up to 60%.</p>
<p>The covered wage is based on the insured's average weekly earnings in the best five years of contributions in which at least 26&nbsp;contributions were made.</p>
<p>Early pension: The benefit is reduced by 0.58% for each month the insured is younger than age&nbsp;65.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: The benefit is increased by 0.58% for each month the insured is older than age&nbsp;65, up to 35%.</p>
<p>The minimum pension is B$65.81 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age grant:</span> A lump sum of six times the number of <span class="nobr">50-week</span> periods of paid contributions multiplied by the covered wage is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Social assistance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Noncontributory <span class="nobr">old-age</span> pension (income tested):</span> B$60.54 a week is paid.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability pension:</span> 30% of the insured's covered wage is paid with at least 500&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions; 15% to 28% of covered wage with 150 to 499&nbsp;weeks. The pension is increased by 1% of the covered wage for each <span class="nobr">50-week</span> period of paid or credited contributions exceeding 500&nbsp;weeks, up to 60%.</p>
<p>The covered wage is based on the insured's average weekly earnings in the best three years of contributions in which at least 26&nbsp;contributions were made.</p>
<p>The maximum annual wage used to calculate benefits is B$32,240.</p>
<p>The minimum pension is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Social assistance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability assistance (income tested):</span> B$60.54 a week is paid.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Social insurance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Spouse's pension:</span> 50% of the retirement or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to an eligible <span class="nobr">widow(er).</span></p>
<p>The minimum survivor pension is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Orphan's pension:</span> 10% of the retirement or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid for each eligible child, up to five children (if the <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> receives a survivor pension) or 10&nbsp;children (if the <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> does not receive a survivor pension); B$32.90 a week is paid for each full orphan.</p>
<p>The minimum orphan's pension is B$28.95 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Other eligible survivors:</span> If there is no eligible <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> or orphan, 50% of the retirement or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid to an eligible parent.</p>
<p>The minimum survivor pension is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p>All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the retirement or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor grant:</span> A lump sum of one year of the <span class="nobr">old-age</span> or disability benefit the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Funeral benefit:</span> A lump sum of up to B$1,720 is paid to the person who pays for the funeral.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Social assistance</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor assistance (income tested):</span> B$60.54 a week is paid to persons aged&nbsp;18 or older; B$24.21 a week to children younger than age&nbsp;18.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labour and National Insurance (<a href="https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour">http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Insurance Board (<a href="http://www.nib-bahamas.com">http://www.nib-bahamas.com</a>) administers the program.</p>
<h2>Sickness and Maternity</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current laws:</span> 1972 (national insurance) and 1998 (hospitals and health care).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance (cash benefits) and social assistance (medical benefits) system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash benefits:</span> Employed and self-employed persons. Voluntarily insured persons are covered for the maternity grant and funeral benefit only.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits (National Prescription Drug Plan):</span> <span class="nobr">Old-age,</span> disability, and survivor pensioners, persons receiving cash sickness benefits, persons aged&nbsp;65 or older, children up to age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;25 if a <span class="nobr">full-time</span> student), needy persons, public-sector employees, and women receiving prenatal or postnatal care.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits (social assistance):</span> Residents of the Bahamas.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> The total cost.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash sickness benefits:</span>&nbsp;Must have been employed on the day of or on the day before the incapacity began and have at least 40&nbsp;weeks of contributions, including 26&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions in the year immediately before the incapacity began or in the last contribution year, or 13&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions in the 26&nbsp;weeks immediately before the incapacity began.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Cash maternity benefits:</span>&nbsp;Must have at least 50&nbsp;weeks of contributions, including 26&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions in the last year of contributions or in the 40&nbsp;weeks before the benefit is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity grant:</span> Must have at least 50&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions. The benefit is paid to an insured woman or the wife of an insured man.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral benefit:</span> Paid when an insured person or the spouse of an insured person dies if the insured had at least 50&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions.</p>
<h3>Sickness and Maternity Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Sickness benefit:</span> 60% of average weekly covered earnings is paid after a three-day waiting period for up to 26&nbsp;weeks; may be extended for 14&nbsp;weeks in certain circumstances.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Sickness allowance (means tested):</span> B$60.54 a week is paid for an insured person who does not meet the contribution requirements for the sickness benefit.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity benefit:</span> 66.6% of average weekly covered earnings is paid for 13&nbsp;weeks beginning no earlier than six weeks before the expected date of childbirth; may be extended for two weeks in certain circumstances.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit is B$69.48 a week.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity grant:</span> A lump sum of B$465 is paid for each live birth.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral benefit:</span> A lump sum of B$1,720 is paid to the person who pays for the funeral.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits (National Prescription Drug Plan):</span> Free medicine and wellness programs are provided for persons suffering from one or more of 14 approved chronic diseases.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits (social assistance):</span> Public and private medical care is available at public hospitals and clinics. Government subsidizes the cost of primary care for civil servants, children, pregnant women, persons older than age&nbsp;60, and needy persons.</p>
<h3>Dependents' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits for dependents (social assistance and National Prescription Drug Program):</span> Medical benefits for dependents are the same as those for the insured.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash benefits</span></p>
<p>Ministry of Labour and National Insurance (<a href="https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour">http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Insurance Board (<a href="http://www.nib-bahamas.com">http://www.nib-bahamas.com</a>) administers the program.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits</span></p>
<p>Ministry of Health (<a href="https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/health">http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/health</a>) provides general supervision and administers primary health care benefits.</p>
<p>National Insurance Board's Medical Benefits Branch (<a href="http://www.nib-bahamas.com">http://www.nib-bahamas.com</a>) administers the National Prescription Drug Plan.</p>
<h2>Work Injury</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1943 (workmen's compensation).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1972 (national insurance).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed and self-employed persons.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Family labor.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> 2% of covered earnings.</p>
<p>The maximum annual earnings used to calculate contributions are B$32,240.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> See source of funds for Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Work injury benefits:</span> There is no minimum qualifying period.</p>
<h3>Temporary Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Temporary disability pension:</span> 66.6% of the insured's average weekly covered earnings is paid after a three-day waiting period for up to 40&nbsp;weeks.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p>The maximum benefit is B$413.33 a week.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Permanent disability pension:</span> For an assessed degree of disability of 100%, 66.6% of the insured's average weekly covered earnings is paid. A lump sum of B$1,000 is also paid.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit for a total disability is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p>The maximum benefit for a total disability benefit is B$413.33 a week.</p>
<p>Constant-attendance supplement: If the insured is assessed with a 100% degree of disability and requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions, 20% of the insured's permanent disability pension is paid.</p>
<p>Partial disability: For an assessed degree of disability of at least 25%, a reduced pension is paid, according to the assessed degree of disability. A lump sum of B$500 is also paid.</p>
<p>The minimum partial disability benefit is B$60.54 a week.</p>
<p>Lump-sum grant: For an assessed degree of disability of 1% to 24%, a lump sum of B$100 to B$2,400 is paid, according to the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Benefits (including hospitalization, general and specialist care, medicine, and transportation) are paid for up to 40&nbsp;weeks (for an assessed degree of disability of 25% or less) or two years (for an assessed degree of disability of more than 25%).</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Spouse's&nbsp;pension:</span> 50% of the temporary disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Orphan's pension:</span> 10% of the temporary disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive is paid for each dependent child younger than age&nbsp;16 (age&nbsp;21 if a <span class="nobr">full-time</span> student), up to five children (if the <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> receives a survivor pension) or 10&nbsp;children (if the <span class="nobr">widow(er)</span> does not receive a survivor pension).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Industrial death benefit:</span> A lump sum of one month of the spouse's or orphan's pension is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Industrial funeral benefit:</span> A lump sum of B$1,720 is paid to the person who paid for the funeral.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labour and National Insurance (<a href="https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour">http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Insurance Board (<a href="http://www.nib-bahamas.com">http://www.nib-bahamas.com</a>) administers the program.</p>
<h2>Unemployment</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current law:</span> 2009 (national insurance), implemented in 2009 and 2010.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed persons younger than age&nbsp;65.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Self-employed persons.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> 0.5% of salary.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 0.5% of payroll.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> Any deficit.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Unemployment benefit:</span> Must have at least 52&nbsp;weeks of paid contributions, including 13&nbsp;weeks of paid or credited contributions in the 26&nbsp;weeks before unemployment began, and seven weeks of paid or credited contributions in the 13&nbsp;weeks before unemployment began.</p>
<p>To remain eligible, the insured must register with the labor exchange every four weeks, be available and looking for work, and must accept suitable employment.</p>
<h3>Unemployment Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Unemployment benefit:</span> 50% of the insured's average covered weekly earnings is paid after a three-day waiting period for up to 13&nbsp;weeks (may be extended in certain circumstances) in any <span class="nobr">52-week</span> period.</p>
<p>After receiving benefits for 13&nbsp;weeks in any <span class="nobr">52-week</span> period, the insured must wait 52&nbsp;weeks to be eligible for another claim.</p>
<p>The minimum unemployment benefit is B$71.08 a week.</p>
<p>The maximum unemployment benefit is B$310 a week.</p>
<p>Schedule of payments: The benefit is paid biweekly.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labour and National Insurance (<a href="https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour">http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/labour</a>) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>National Insurance Board (<a href="http://www.nib-bahamas.com">http://www.nib-bahamas.com</a>) administers the program.</p>
</div>
</article><nav>
<div class="docNav"><a class="previous" href="argentina.html">Previous: Argentina</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTop" href="#hLogo">Top of page</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTOC" href="index.html#fileList">Table of contents</a>&nbsp;<a class="next" href="barbados.html">Next: Barbados</a></div>
</nav>
<footer><div id="footer">
<div class="important-info"><h4>Important Information:</h4>
<ul><li><a href="/agency/">About Us</a></li>
<li><a href="/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li>
<li><a href="/foia/">FOIA</a></li>
<li><a href="/open/">Open Government</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/glossary/">Glossary</a></li>
<li><a href="/privacy/">Privacy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://oig.ssa.gov/report/">Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/websitepolicies.html">Website Policies</a></li></ul>
</div>
<p class="align-center margin-top">This website is produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense.</p>
</div></footer>
<!-- SSA INTERNET BODY SCRIPTS -->
<script src="/policy/js/rspa.doc.js"></script>
<script src="/policy/js/rspa-shared.js"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.body.js"></script>
</body></html>