Working for yourself? You can get benefits.
Last updated May 2026
When you work for yourself, National Insurance provides benefits to help support you when you are unable to work.
Good to know
- It's protection, not a deduction. Your contributions build benefits you can claim — sickness, injury, pension. The money works for you, not against you.
- You don't need a registered business. Your NIS number is yours for life and follows you — not your job.
- Slow month? Pay less or skip. It's voluntary, and there's no penalty for a month you can't pay.
- Your benefits build as you pay. You don't have to pay a whole year up front before you start.
Who this is for
This is for you if you earn money from work and no employer pays National Insurance for you — whether it is your only job or something you do on the side. For example, if you:
- drive or deliver for an app — rideshare, food or parcel delivery
- work in a trade or service — mechanics, hairdressers, handymen, carers
- sell food, goods or crafts — market vendors, caterers, online sellers
- freelance or do online work — design, writing, coding, content creators
- work in a profession on your own account — consultants, accountants, lawyers, doctors, engineers
- rent your place to visitors — Airbnb and other short-stay hosts
- do cash-in-hand or casual work — dock work, events, fishing, music, dancing
- do domestic or household work — cleaning, babysitting, helping in homes
You don't need to fit one of these exactly.
Already have a job? If an employer pays National Insurance for you, you can still pay for your self-employed work as well.
What you get
National Insurance protects you in 7 ways:
- Sickness Benefit — money to live on if you can't work because you're sick.
- Maternity Benefit — income while you take time off to have your baby.
- Paternity Benefit — a short paid break for new fathers.
- Invalidity Pension — ongoing support if a long illness or injury stops you from working.
- Survivors' Benefit — help for your husband, wife or children if something happens to you.
- Funeral Grant — a payment to help your family with funeral costs.
- Old-Age Contributory Pension — a monthly income for the rest of your life when you stop working.
Important: It does not provide unemployment benefits.
How to get benefits
When you're ready, you can get your National Insurance number, register, pay, and check your record — all with NIS.
Need to speak to someone?
You can call NIS for free advice, or visit the NIS office.
National Insurance Office
Frank Walcott Building
Culloden Road, St. Michael, Barbados
Phone: (246) 431-7400
or (246) 467-4NIS (4647)
Website: www.nis.gov.bb
Source: National Insurance and Social Security Service (NIS), May 2026. Self-employed benefits are set out in Act 2023-25, which defines a self-employed person as someone "gainfully occupied in employment in Barbados pursuant to a contract for services".