Liberia

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1972.

Current law: 1988.

Type of program: Dual social insurance and social assistance system.

Coverage

Social insurance

Employees of firms with five or more workers and public-sector employees.

Exclusions: Casual workers, family labor, and domestic employees.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons and others not compulsorily covered.

Social assistance

Needy elderly, disabled, or unemployed persons.

Source of Funds

Social insurance

Insured person: 3% of earnings.

Employer: 3% of payroll.

Government: None.

Social assistance

Insured person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: Total cost.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: Age 60 with 100 months of contributions. Retirement from employment is necessary until age 65.

Old-age settlement: For an insured person with at least 12 months of contributions who is ineligible for a pension at retirement age.

Old-age assistance: A noncontributory scheme for needy aged and unemployed workers who are ineligible for regular benefits.

Disability pension: Permanent incapacity for work with contributions in 2/3 of the months since first becoming covered, with a minimum of 50 contributions in the last 60 months.

Disability settlement: For an insured person with at least 12 months of contributions who is ineligible for a pension.

Disability assistance: A noncontributory scheme for needy disabled workers who are ineligible for regular benefits.

Survivor pension: The insured person met the disability pension requirements or was a pensioner at the time of death.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: 25% of average monthly earnings, plus 1% for every 10-month period of contributions beyond 100.

Old-age settlement: A lump sum equal to employee contributions, plus accrued interest.

Old-age assistance: The maximum assistance benefit is $350 a year.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: 25% of average monthly earnings, plus 1% for every 10-month period of contributions in excess of 50.

Disability settlement: A lump sum equal to employee contributions, plus accrued interest.

Disability assistance: The maximum benefit is $350 a year.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 50% of the insured's pension, payable to a widow or a dependent disabled widower.

Orphan's pension: 10% of the insured's pension (20% for a full orphan) for each child under age 18 (age 21 if student; no limit if disabled).

The maximum survivor pension is 100% of the old-age pension or disability pension, whichever is higher.

Administrative Organization

Managed by a tripartite board of directors, the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1943.

Current law: 1980.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Exclusions: Casual workers, family labor, and domestic servants.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Employer: An average contribution of 1.75% of payroll.

Government: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

65% of average earnings, payable after a 14-day waiting period (the first 14 days are compensated retroactively if the disability lasts longer than 14 days) until full recovery or certification of permanent disability.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: 65% of average earnings, if totally disabled.

Constant-attendance supplement: 25% of the pension.

Partial disability: A percentage of the full pension proportionate to the assessed degree of disability, according to the schedule in law.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Reasonable expenses for medical and surgical care, hospitalization, drugs, and appliances.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 20% of the insured's average earnings, payable to a widow or a dependent disabled widower.

Orphan's pension: 10% of the insured's average earnings (20% for a full orphan) for each child under age 18 (age 21 if student; no limit if disabled).

The maximum orphan's pension is 30% of earnings.

Dependent parents or grandparents (in the absence of the above): 20% of the insured's average earnings, divided equally if there is more than one survivor.

Funeral grant: The cost of the burial, up to a maximum of $500.

Administrative Organization

Managed by a tripartite board of directors, the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation administers the program.