Barbados NIS unemployment benefit calculator 2026
A worker in Barbados who loses a job and has paid enough NIS contributions can claim unemployment benefit. NISSS pays 60% of average insurable weekly earnings, for a maximum of 26 weeks weeks.
Enter your average insurable weekly earnings and how many weeks you expect to be without work. You will see the weekly amount and the total you can expect if the claim is approved.
How it's calculated
- Insurable earnings: average weekly earnings, limited to the NIS weekly ceiling of Bds$1,238.
- Weekly benefit: 60% of those earnings.
- Weeks counted: your expected weeks, up to 26 weeks.
- Total: weekly benefit multiplied by the weeks counted. Contribution and job search conditions are decided by NISSS and are not part of the calculation.
An example
A hotel waiter averaged Bds$1,000 a week in insurable earnings and expects to be out of work for 20 weeks. His weekly benefit is 60% of Bds$1,000, or Bds$600.00, so the total is Bds$12,000.00. Someone earning Bds$1,500 a week is treated as earning the ceiling of Bds$1,238, so the weekly benefit is Bds$742.80, and 26 weeks pay Bds$19,312.80.
Frequently asked questions
How much is unemployment benefit in Barbados?
The NISSS Unemployment Benefit page gives 60% of the insured person's average insurable weekly earnings.
How long can I get unemployment benefit?
The same page sets a maximum of 26 weeks weeks.
Who pays for unemployment benefit?
It comes out of the NIS contributions you and your employer pay. The employee rate of 11% includes an unemployment element, according to the NISSS contribution table.
Key terms
- Unemployment benefit
- A weekly NIS payment for an insured worker who has lost a job and is looking for work.
- Insurable earnings
- Pay up to the NIS ceiling, on which contributions and benefits are based.
- NISSS
- The National Insurance and Social Security Service, which pays the benefit.
Up-to-date official data
Data checked against the official source on .
We check the official sources automatically, every day.
- National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS)Unemployment Benefit
- National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS)Notice: Increase in Insurable Earnings Ceiling, effective January 1, 2026