First law: 1937 (assistance).
Current law: 1966 (national insurance and social security), with 1982 amendment.
Type of program: Dual social insurance and social assistance system.
Social insurance: All employed persons, public-sector employees, and the self-employed aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Unpaid family labor.
Social assistance: Residents aged 65 or older (aged 18 or older and incapable of work due to defective eyesight or serious hearing and speech problems).
Insured person: 5.25% of earnings; self-employed persons contribute 10.5% of earnings.
Employer: 5.25% of payroll.
Government: None; except as an employer.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly; self-employed persons, B$1,092 a year.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$715 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,100 a month for employees paid monthly.
Insured person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: Total cost.
Old-age pension: Age 65 with 500 weeks of contributions, including at least 150 weeks of paid contributions.
Early pension: Under the approval of the Director of the National Insurance Board, the pension may be paid at age 64 if the insured is no longer employed or self-employed.
Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred until age 70.
Old-age grant: Age 65 and does not meet the qualifying conditions for the old-age pension.
Disability pension: Under age 65 with 150 weeks of contributions.
Disability grant: Under age 65 and does not meet the qualifying conditions for the disability pension.
Survivor pension: The insured person had at least 150 weeks of paid contributions.
Funeral grant: The insured person had at least 50 weeks of paid contributions.
Noncontributory old-age pension: Age 65, satisfies the residency conditions, and does not meet the qualifying conditions for a social insurance pension.
Noncontributory disability pension (income-tested): Age 18, satisfies the residency conditions, and is assessed as incapable of work due to defective eyesight or serious hearing and speech problems.
Old-age pension: 40% of average insurable earnings during the best 5 years out of the last 15 years (maybe less if the insured person has fewer contribution years), plus 1% of earnings for every
The minimum weekly pension is B$105.
Old-age grant: A lump sum equal to 6 weeks' earnings for every
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically in accordance with cost-of-living changes.
Noncontributory old-age pension: The minimum weekly pension is B$86.00.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically in accordance with cost-of-living changes.
Disability pension: 40% of average annual insurable earnings during the best 5 years out of the last 15 years (maybe less if the insured person has fewer contribution years), plus 1% of earnings for every
The minimum weekly pension is B$105.
Disability grant: A lump sum equal to 6 weeks' average insurable earnings for every
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically according to cost-of-living changes.
Noncontributory disability pension (income-tested): The minimum weekly pension is B$86.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically according to cost-of-living changes.
Survivor pension: 50% of the pension paid or payable to the insured person if the
Orphan's pension: 16.6% of the insured's pension is payable to each child under age 16 (age 21 if student; no limit if disabled before age 16); 33.3% if a full orphan or disabled.
The minimum survivor pension is B$105 a week.
The maximum survivor pension is 100% of the insured's pension.
Funeral grant: B$1,400 is payable to the person covering the cost of the funeral of the insured person or his or her spouse.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically according to cost-of-living changes.
Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office administers the program.
First and current law: 1966 (national insurance and social security), with amendment.
Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.
All employed persons, public-sector employees, and the self-employed aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Unpaid family labor. Permanent government employees are excluded for sickness insurance.
Insured person: 0.82% of wages; self-employed persons contribute 1.64% of earnings.
Employer: 0.82% of payroll.
Government: None; 0.32% of earnings toward the cost of maternity benefit for government employees.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly; self-employed persons, B$1,092 a year.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$715 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,100 a month for employees paid monthly.
Cash sickness benefits: At least 13 weeks of insurance coverage; 7 weeks of paid contributions in the last but 1 quarter before the quarter in which the onset of incapacity began; employed immediately prior to becoming ill or have at least 39 paid or credited contributions in the 4 consecutive quarters ending with the last quarter but one before the quarter of the onset of incapacity.
Cash maternity benefits: At least 26 weeks of insurance coverage, including 16 weeks of paid contributions in the 2 consecutive quarters ending with the last but 1 quarter before the quarter in which the benefit is paid.
Self-employed women: At least 39 weeks of contributions in the 4 consecutive quarters ending with the last but 1 quarter before the quarter in which the benefit is paid; 16 weeks of paid contributions in the 2 consecutive quarters ending with the last but 1 quarter before the quarter in which the benefit is paid.
Funeral grant: For an insured person who was receiving, or was entitled to, sickness benefit or maternity benefit.
Maternity grant: For a woman who is not insured or who fails to meet the coverage requirements for cash maternity benefits but whose spouse does meet the requirements.
Sickness benefit: 66.6% of average insurable weekly earnings. The benefit is payable after a
Maternity benefit: 100% of average insurable weekly earnings, payable for up to 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the expected date of childbirth.
Funeral grant: B$1,400 is payable to the person paying for the cost of the funeral.
Maternity grant: A lump sum of B$800.
No statutory benefits are provided.
Free medical care is available in public hospitals and health centers.
No statutory benefits are provided.
Free medical care is available in public hospitals and health centers.
Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.
Directed by a tripartite board, the National Insurance Office administers the program.
First law: 1916 (workmen's compensation).
Current law: 1966 (national insurance and social security), with amendment.
Type of program: Social insurance system.
All employed persons, public-sector employees, and some categories of fishermen aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Self-employed persons and unpaid family labor.
Insured person: None.
Employer: 0.75% of payroll.
Government: None, except as an employer.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$715 a week for employes paid weekly or B$3,100 a month for employees paid monthly.
Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.
90% of average insurable earnings, payable after a
Permanent disability pension: 90% of average earnings if totally disabled.
Partial disability: A percentage of the full pension in proportion to the assessed degree of disability.
A lump-sum grant is paid if the assessed degree of disability is less than 30%.
Constant-attendance supplement: 50% of the pension.
Benefits include reimbursement of expenses for medical, surgical, dental, and hospital treatment; nursing care; medicines; appliances; and transportation.
Survivor pension: 50% of the insured's temporary disability benefit, payable to a dependent spouse.
Remarriage settlement: If the spouse remarries or cohabits, the pension ceases and a lump sum equal to 1 year's pension is paid.
Orphan's pension: 16.6% of the insured's temporary disability benefit for each child under age 16; 33.3% if a full orphan or disabled. There is no age limit for a disabled orphan.
The maximum survivor pension is 100% of the insured's temporary disability benefit.
Funeral grant: B$1,400, payable to the person paying for the cost of the funeral of the insured worker.
Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.
National Insurance Office administers the program.
First and current law: 1982 (national insurance and social security).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Employees aged 16 to 64.
Exclusions: Self-employed persons, family labor, and permanent government employees.
Insured person: 0.75% of earnings.
Employer: 0.75% of payroll.
Government: None, except as an employer.
The minimum earnings for contribution purposes are B$21 a week for employees paid weekly or B$91 a month for employees paid monthly.
The maximum earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are B$715 a week for employees paid weekly or B$3,100 a month for employees paid monthly.
Unemployment benefit: Under age 65 with 52 weeks of insurance coverage; at least 20 weeks of paid or credited contributions in the 3 consecutive quarters ending with the last but 1 quarter before the onset of unemployment; at least 7 weeks of paid or credited contributions in the last but 1 quarter before the onset of unemployment.
60% of average insurable weekly earnings for 26 weeks. The benefit is payable after a
Ministry of Labor provides general supervision.
National Insurance Office administers the program.