A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Insurance Board of T&T (NIBTT) and Ministry of Legal Affairs, signed in February 2014, paves the way for the NIBTT to eliminate the need for most NIS beneficiaries to submit life certificates twice a year.
Under the new arrangement, the Registrar General's Department of the Ministry will provide the NIBTT with regular access to information on births and deaths, which will allow the NIBTT to obtain proof of life for NIS beneficiaries without the submission of bi-annual life certificates.
In preparation for this change, the NIBTT in April began a process of inviting benefit recipients to submit their electronic birth certificates at the same time they submit life certificates so that their PIN numbers can be added to the system. This process was initiated with letters sent directly to the homes of NIS pension recipients.We would like to share with pensioners, family members and concerned citizens, some questions and answers about these new steps.
1. Why does the NIBTT want electronic birth certificates? Why can't I use my original one?
Each electronic birth certificate contains a unique PIN number which is used to record births and deaths. Original/older birth certificates do not have this PIN.Through the MOU the NIBTT can access the Ministry's registrar of birth and deaths and match records using the pin number to determine if benefits should continue.
2. Do we need to submit electronic birth certificates by the June 23 deadline?
No. All pensioners need to submit their life certificates by the June 23 deadline to avoid a delay in payment of their benefit. The NIBTT has taken this opportunity to begin to collect the necessary data (PIN) from beneficiaries' electronic birth certificates.Further, to facilitate greater ease and convenience of the submission of life certificates, the NIBTT will open service centres on two consecutive Saturdays–June 7 and 14 from 8 am to 12. Beneficiaries may also submit copies of their electronic birth certificate at this time.
3. What if I cannot obtain my electronic birth certificate by the deadline, will I be penalised by the loss of my benefits?
There is no deadline for the submission of the electronic birth certificate.No penalty or loss of benefit will result from an inability to submit electronic birth certificates by June 23, 2014.The NIBTT is simply encouraging beneficiaries to submit this information now in preparation for the new system which will be implemented in the future. You must, however, submit your life certificate by June 23, 2014 to ensure that your payment continues.
Please note that the current system of twice-yearly submission of life certificates will continue for all beneficiaries until the NIBTT announces otherwise. The next submission will be due in December 2014.
4. I am a T&T citizen and NIS beneficiary, but my birth certificate was issued by another country? Do I need to submit this birth certificate to the NIBTT?
At this time the NIBTT is receiving only electronic T&T birth certificates with the PIN number.
Jennilynn Howe-Dopwell,
The NIBTT