OVERNMENT-FUNDED SECOND EXTENSION UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD FACT SHEET The National Insurance Board is pleased to advise that the second extension to the Unemployment Programme is being rolled out effective October 1, 2020. This second extension impacts those individuals who remain unemployed after the completion of the first 13 weeks extension and runs until 31st December, 2020. Who is eligible? All customers who have completed the first 13 weeks of the Government Unemployment Extension Programme who remain partially or fully unemployed will be eligible for the Second Extension Programme. What if I am working part time? • Unlike the NIB unemployment programme, you will still be eligible for partial assistance even if you work for part of the week. This approach ensures that employees who are called back to work for part of a week are not disadvantaged. • If you work any day during the period, an amount of $20 per day worked will be deducted from the weekly payment. This information is to be given during the verification process. What happens when I return to full time employment? • It is important to note that if you have returned to work, kindly have your employer submit your return to work date to NIB via email to returntowork@nib-bahamas.com . • If you return to full time employment, payments under this extension programme will cease. Do I have to sign-up again? It is not necessary to sign-up again but like the earlier extension, customers should log on to https://govuebex.nib-bahamas.com/signin to verify. Do I have to provide any documents to receive the extension payments? No. All customers who completed the first 13 weeks of the Government Unemployment Extension Programme will be eligible for the Second Extension Programme and have already been pre-registered. When do I verify? Verification for the programme, under the new rules, is now open. However, this time customers must verify the amount of income that they received in the 2-week period. All registrants must verify their estimated earrings during each payment cycle at least 3 days before the next pay day to continue to receive payments. Please correctly verify your income for the verification period, including vacation pay, salary, ex gratia payments or other gratuities. Published: November 2, 2020 How much income support will I receive? • The Second Extension Programme pays at $100 per week, every 2 weeks. Unlike the NIB unemployment programme, you will still be eligible for partial assistance even if you work for part of the week. This approach ensures that employees who are called back to work for part of a week are not disadvantaged. • This amount will be deducted from the Government’s payment. For example, if you earned $50 during the 2-week period, your payment will be $150 for the 2-week period ($200 less the $50 earned). If your income exceeds the $200 Government subsidy, then no Government payment will be made. This adjustment ensures that more people can continue to benefit from the programme and receive some partial income support. How will the payment be issued? • If you were paid your NIB Unemployment Benefit by your employer during the COVID-19 shutdown period (March 23-June 30, 2020), you will continue to receive funds by that method while on this programme. Your employer will verify your employment status on your behalf. • If you were paid your NIB Unemployment Benefit by direct deposit to your bank account from NIB, you will continue to receive payment by bank transfer. Payments may be delayed if you provided incorrect banking information. • If NIB paid your Unemployment Benefit by a cheque, for any reason, during the shutdown period, your payment will now be sent to an Island Pay Digital Wallet. Visit the Island Pay website https://islandpay.com for more information on registering and to download the app. Payments in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands will be made via cheque until further notice. • Self-employed persons in the tourism sector will continue to be paid assistances via the normal method (direct bank deposit, Suncash or cheque payment). Can I have my funds wired by direct deposit? Customers wishing to update their banking details or to provide banking details for the first time should do so by emailing updateUEBbank@nib-bahamas.com and include a bank document clearly showing the transit number and the account number. The account must belong to you. What happens if I have not completed the original programme? These customers will continue to receive the remainder of the first extension payments at the original rate until the conclusion of their 13 weeks (or 65 days of payment). Thereafter, they will transition to the new programme under the new rules, payment rates and verification requirements. Therefore, for customers who are still on the original programme – there will be no change to your verification screen. Please continue to verify the number of days you have worked during the verification period. I have a problem, how do I reach NIB? Due to the continued surge in COVID 19 cases, which has also directly impacted NIB personnel, in person customer queries at Head Quarters cannot be safely accommodated at this time. Customer queries should be sent via email to UEBext2@nib-bahamas. While NIB can reset your Portal password, NIB Published: November 2, 2020 cannot reset your personal email passwords or assist with your email application problems. Customers should check their spam or junk email boxes for NIB emails. Who do I contact if I have technical problems with the portal? • If you have any technical issues or problems receiving your payment, please send an email to: govUEBex@nib-bahamas.com . What happens if I have submitted a claim during the COVID19 shutdown period but have not heard from NIB or received payments? • If you applied for the ordinary NIB UEB during the COVID19 period (March 23 – June 30, 2020) and have not received payments or received a disallowance letter from NIB, please send an email to UEBresolution@nib-bahamas.com for an agent to address your claim. • If your regular NIB UEB claim is approved, you will be eligible for the 13 weeks from the time that you were first unemployed and also for the Government extension programme if you remain unemployed after you have exhausted NIB’s 13 weeks. • If you have been receiving NIB’s regular UEB payments and these payments suddenly stopped, your claim may have been suspended due to non-verification of continued unemployment through the Department of Labour (DOL). Please register/verify on DOL’s website https://jobseekers.bahamas.gov.bs. Do I have to make any declarations? • All registrants are required to log in to the portal to verify employment status at least 3 days before the next payment date. This verification attests to any change in your employment. • Applicants must inform NIB if there are any changes in their circumstances which may affect their entitlement to payment. • Acknowledge that it is an offence to provide false information or to withhold information to qualify for this payment. What are the consequences for making a false statement to NIB? • Fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or both.