The Tribune

BY NATARIO MCKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Insurance Board (NIB) registrants were yesterday urged to ‘police’ their contributions via its online tracking facility, a Cabinet minister noting that it continues to face claims by persons with insufficient contributions.

Shane Gibson, minister of labour and national insurance, who was speaking at a press conference to highlight the launch of NIB’s new National Insurance smart card, said: “We have so so many issues where employees are coming looking for benefits and they cannot claim because they have no record at all of their contributions.

“Persons die, their families try to collect survivors benefits, they find out that they have insufficient contributions, but they would tell us that their relative was actually working over a period of time and had contributions.

“It is important that every single person register to be able to view their information online so they themselves can police what is happening with their contributions.”

NIB’s new “smart card” could also be used as a national identity card, Mr Gibson said, noting that a recommendation would be made to Cabinet relative to the issue.

“It was something Cabinet asked us to look into, and as soon as we submit a recommendation we will wait on Cabinet’s approval to proceed if that is their recommendation at the end of the day,” he added.

Cecile Williams-Bethel senior deputy director at NIB, said the smart card, which is good for five years, was a “natural end” to the new insurance administration system.

“NIB is leveraging technology to do business better and smarter,” said Mrs Williams-Bethel. She added that the card, which will be made available free of charge, has security features designed to make it difficult to duplicate.

Mrs Williams-Bethel acknowledged that NIB has experienced cases of fraud in the past. “We have had that, and that’s one of the reasons why we have sought to really secure the card. It hasn’t been widespread but one is one to many,” she said.