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GAA has compiled a
number of articles and reports focused on social pensions, as well as a
list of sources of information. We believe that older persons have the
unconditional right to income security. Universal Social Pensions are
the most effective way to provide dignity to older persons.
The world is aging
fast. Developing nations increasingly face difficulties supporting
their older population. In most developing countries, the elderly live
at the bottom of the socio-economic strata. Older women, in particular,
confront harsh conditions. Women usually take care of their children
and family, an activity that puts them in a disadvantaged position when
older. Many people in the developing world hold informal jobs or work
without wages in rural areas. These older persons enjoy no proper
pension system have scarce retirement savings, if any. Most poor
countries have no pension system, save for the military and government
officials. By providing cash transfers to older persons, governments
can meet their obligation to protect the most vulnerable sector in
their society.
Where social
pensions exist, older persons share their benefits with the members of
their household, buying food, supplies, and proving clothes and school
materials for their grandchildren. Often older persons care for
relatives infected with HIV/AIDS, as well as look after their orphaned
grandchildren. In the latter case, social pensions save lives.
Recent examples of
several poor countries that have implemented a social pension system
show that they are neither complicated nor very costly. In fact,
financial projections (see reports and articles) show that social
pensions take less than 3% of a national budget.
Page
created on: January 2007
Definitions
Social
Pension(s): generally defined as a non-contributory cash
income given to older persons (usually by the government)
Alternative words: cash transfers, non-contributory pensions, social
protection pensions
Universal Social
Pension(s): cash income given to all older
persons, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Means-Tested Social
Pensions: solely for the poor and are
conditional on the level of income.
Social
Protection:
a system that
provides basic health, education, and income security to all population
or to a certain group (usually the most vulnerable: children, older
persons, women)
Fact Sheet
Social
Protection: Facts and Figures
May 1, 2006
Social pensions:
Have positive social and economic
effects
With a pension, older people can:
· afford to eat at least one meal a day
· access basic services such as credit, health care and
water
· invest in income-generating activities and the health and
education of dependants
· support the millions of children in their care orphaned by
HIV/AIDS or conflict and emergencies
· break the cycle of chronic poverty from one generation to the
next.
Help reduce extreme poverty and
hunger
· The first target of
Millennium Development Goal 1 is, by 2015, to halve the proportion of
the population whose income is less than a dollar a day. Social
pensions can contribute to the achievement of this target.
· Social pensions can reduce the number of people living on less
than a dollar a day. In South Africa, the pension reduces the number of
people living below the poverty line by 5% (2.24 million).
· They can reduce the poverty-gap ratio. The pension reduces the
ratio by more than 13% in South Africa and almost 8% in Brazil.
· Social pensions can increase the share of the poorest 5% of
the population in national consumption. They increase the income of
this group of the population by 100% in Brazil and by 50% in South
Africa.
Contribute to the human-rights agenda
· Social pensions support the rights of older people and their
contribution to development.
· They build good governance and political support for
citizenship.
· They support social cohesion and household coping mechanisms.
· Introducing a social pension helps to reduce gender inequality
in income and quality of life between older women and men.
Effectively target aid at minimum cost
· In Brazil, pensions reach 5.3 million poor older people at 1%
of gross domestic product (GDP). A pensioner in the family reduces a
household’s probability of becoming poor by 21%.
· In South Africa, pensions reach 1.9 million poor older people
at 1.4% of GDP. A pensioner in the family reduces a household’s
probability of becoming poor by 11%.
· Social pensions target older women, who are among the poorest
and most vulnerable people in developing countries.
· Social pensions deliver support to children, bringing
educational and nutritional benefits.
Improve the life chances of orphans and vulnerable
children
· In Tanzania, where there is no pension, out of 146,000
children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, only 1,000 attended secondary school,
because their grandparents could not afford the fees.
· In Zambia, a pilot cash-transfer scheme to older people caring
for orphans has improved school attendance.
· In rural Brazil, pensions are associated with increased school
enrolment, particularly of girls aged 12-14.
· In South Africa, girls living in a household with an older
woman who receives a pension are 3-4 centimeters taller than girls in
households with older women who do not receive a pension.
Are feasible and affordable
· The cost of delivering universal benefits is not beyond the
means of resource-poor countries.
· The cost of implementing large-scale social pension schemes is
less than 2% of GDP in Namibia and 1.4% in South Africa.
· Administration accounts for only 2-3% of benefit payments in
Botswana and Mauritius.
· Universal provision of social pensions to older people is
administratively simpler and less expensive than means-tested benefits.
Background Documents
Worldwide, many
ageing advocates and their organizations see Social Pensions as a key
resource to reduce old age poverty in poor countries. Increasingly,
these non-contributory pensions awarded on the basis of age figure as a
primary development strategy. In the field of aging, HelpAge
International (our partner organization) has carried extensive research
on how social pensions lift older people out of poverty. Institutions
such as the World Bank, the Inter- American Development Bank, and the
International Labour Organization now identify social pensions as a
good method to help the help the poorest elderly. UN agencies dealing
with aging and/or development urge governments to consider basic social
protection and social pensions for older persons.
 Social
Protection
for
Older
People:
A
Plan
of
Action
(October 2007)
The Social Watch Report 2007 entitled, “In dignity and rights. Making
the universal right to social security a reality,” was launched October
24 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It features GAA
President Susanne Paul and then Program Coordinator Alischa Kugel’s
article on “Social Protection for Older People: A Plan of Action.”
Social
Security for All: Investing in Global Social and Economic Development
(August 2006)
The International Labor Organization’s social security department
launched a “Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All.”
This paper shows that their program is not that ambitious: national
social security systems can make a major contribution to the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The extension of
social security for all is nothing less than a basic human right
(article 22 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights). The
authors of he paper stress that implementing minimum social standards
at the national level will reduce international transfers and other
financial development aids. Economically, extending social security in
an aging world is realistic: it is proved in the developed countries
that social transfers to the elderly are mainly spent and consequently
redistributed.
Social
Protection
as
a Productive Factor (November 2005)
This paper by the International Labour Organization's
Committee on Employment and Social Policy argues in favor of income
security and basic health and social services to lift extremely
vulnerable persons out of poverty. This approach, presented by the ILO
for discussion and review, would promote overall productivity and
economic growth in nations. Older persons would benefit as well.
 Social Transfers and Chronic Poverty:
Emerging Evidence and the Challenge Ahead (October 2005)
Developing countries are turning more and more to social pensions. The
World Bank’s 2006 World Development Report even recognizes their role
in tackling poverty and inequality. Indeed social pensions offer a
cheaper and more effective option to the humanitarian assistance This
DFID (Department for International Development) practice paper
summarizes how countries deal with the main challenges as they install
social pensions. What are the issues of such social transfers? Here
they are: Developing appropriate mechanisms of co-ordination between
government and other ministries, getting support of UN agencies and
NGOs, ensuring that the transfers reach the poorest through delivery
systems protected against corruption, and building country ownership
and political will.
Can Low Income Countries
Afford Basic Social Protection? (June 2005)
Economic experts from the International Labour
Organization presented a model study showing it is feasible for
low-income countries to offer basic social protection to their
population. Using case studies from Sub-Saharan Africa, the paper
illustrates that universal pensions, basic health care and education
would only cost a small fraction of a poor country’s GDP . The authors state that universal
social pensions have proven to be very effective in eradicating extreme
poverty among those most vulnerable, including older persons.
Social
Security:
A New Consensus (2001)
The International Labor Organization published this report following
the Committee on Social Security’s meeting. The committee defined a
vision of social security which would guide the work of the
Organization in the years to come. It also looked at the various actors
involved in income security and social protection, ranging from the
family and local solidarity networks to the international community.
Concerning the challenge of an aging population, the group revealed
that financing social security faces difficulties. World Bank advocacy
of privatization and pre-funding of pensions brought on new problems,
such as higher management and transitional costs. They concluded that
global access to social security softens the “old age crisis.” They
also suggested that partnerships with private financial institutions
could be useful, for example, in the case of implementing
micro-insurance.
-----------
Reports
Report: Zambia: A Social Pension
in Zambia (Spring 2011)
In Zambia, in 2006, it was estimated that 64 per cent of the population
livedin poverty. In this context, the Government of Zambia has been
running a set of pilot cash transfers to test which could best form the
basis of a national social protection system. As the situation is
particularly problematic in households headed by older people, the
Katete district transfers US$11 a month to everyone over 60 years
old. The report states that those increased incomes have not only
permitted the older peopleand their relatives to live better, but also
changed perceptions of older people from being a burden, to being a
resource.
Report: World Social
Security Report 2010-2011: Providing Coverage in Times of Crisis and
Beyond (November 16, 2010)
This United Nations study
finds most people worldwide have no social security. Basic social
security remains out of reach for most people world, especially those
in poorer countries, despite the crucial role it plays in protecting
people from the consequences of economic crises. The UN urges
governments to develop comprehensive social security systems where only
rudimentary systems exist so far, starting with basic income security
and affordable access to health care.
World: Public Pension Institutions
and Old-age Mortality in a Comparative Perspective (2010)
In the Journal of
International Social Welfare, a comparative study among public pension
institutions and old-age mortality explores the relationship that is
commonly discussed as separate topics. The researchers examined data
from 18 OECD countries during the post-war period. They wanted to
estimate the impact of changes in pension rights and mortality in
old-age. The report begins by asking the critical question: “How could
pension rights affect old-age mortality?”
World:
Ageing
and
Welfare State: Securing Sustainability (January 2010)
Older adults are depending more and more on social services that they
have helped finance for years. However, governments feel greater
pressure to make cuts due to the continuing recession. Many
considerations for solutions are underway; some governments are
considering rebuilding their public pension systems—a drastic act in
this critical momen.
India: The Social
Pension in India: A Participatory Study on the Poverty Reduction Impact
and Role of Monitoring Groups (January 2009)
The population of older people is increasing dramatically in India. In
addition, there is widespread poverty. To assist the elder poor, the
government adopted a means-based social pension system. Unfortunately,
the scheme did not always benefit the intended recipients. HelpAge
India started monitoring this scheme through the Poorest Area Civil
Society program. To understand more about these “monitoring groups” and
the means-based pension, HAIndia conducted a study. It revealed that
the social pension provides a secure means of monthly income to older
people. They noted that the pension had improved their quality of life,
improved their status in the family and gave them greater
self-confidence. Respondents also felt that the monitoring groups
helped make the pension application process more effective.
World:
Working
for
Life:
Making
Decent
Work
and
Pensions
a
Reality for Older People (2009)
Very little data exists about older workers in the informal sector.
HelpAge International conducted research on older people and work in
Bangladesh, Peru and Uganda. Among findings was the lack of pensions
available to older persons within the informal employment sector,
including 90% of workers in Uganda. A universal pension for older
people would enable them to have a greater choice of work. It would
provide them with money to travel to work, giving them access to loan
schemes or simply allowing them to pay for basic goods or services such
as food or healthcare.
India: Understanding Poverty
Among the Elderly in India: Implications for Social Pension Policy
(2008)
In a 2008 report from India, researchers found that households with
older members are not likely to be poorer than households without
elders. Other study findings have significant policy implications.
Policies that aim to reduce the mortality rate among older people have
the potential to reduce poverty among older people as well. The
researchers highlight that if the demographics continue to change as
the trends in their study show, then the proportion of poor older
people will increase in the coming years and they will be increasingly
dependent on social pensions.
Africa:
Investing in Social Protection in Africa: Summary Report of National
Consultations Held in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mozambique, Rwanda,
Sierra Leone and Tunisia (October 2008)
Global Action on Aging and other aging organizations see social
protection as an indispensable but often overlooked strategy for
development. This HelpAge International Report describes the need for
Africa to invest in social services for poor people. This report
summarizes the meetings held by participating countries as well as key
recommendations. The general findings include the importance of high
level political commitment to making improvements, and a number of
other measures to assure effective social protection programs.
India: Understanding
Poverty Among the Elderly in India: Implications for Social Pension
Policy (April 2008)
Writers of a 2008 report from India found that households with older
members are not likely to be poorer than households without elders.
Other findings of the study have significant policy implications.
Policies that aim to reduce the mortality rate among older people have
the potential to reduce poverty among older people as well. The
researchers highlight that if the demographics continue to change as
the trends in their study show, then the proportion of poor elderly who
will need social pensions will increase in the coming years.
World: Tackling Insecurity
in Old Age: The Challenge of Universal Pensions (September 2007)
“Deteriorating health and declining incomes threaten the
welfare and security of many people as they enter old age.” This UN
report reviews both rich and poor countries, suggests that a minimal
universal social pension can provide a floor below which no older
person could fall. It also points out that such pensions form the
“basis for a more comprehensive pension system which may consist of a
mixture of public initiatives adapted in accordance with existing
country practices, financial circumstances and equity considerations.”
World: World Economic and Social Survey 2007 (June 19, 2007)
(PDF format, 212 p)
Authors of the World Economic and Social Survey say that governments
should raise the participatory rate of the women and older workers in
the labor force in order to offset the potential challenges that might
arise with an aging population. They also highlight initiatives
undertaken since the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing in 2002. The survey particularly emphasizes the
affordability of universal social pensions, even for poor countries.
Pensions as little as one dollar a day would lead to considerable
reduction of old age poverty in developing countries. This would
guarantee the absence of extreme poverty in old age when the population
over 60 is expected to increase from 670 in 2005 to two billion in
2050.
Asia
Pacific:
Expert
Group Meeting on the Regional Preparations for the
Global Review of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (March
27-29, 2007)
Five years after the Madrid Plan on Aging signed by 159 countries,
HelpAge International conducted a review of implementation of the Plan
focusing on two countries of Asia: Bangladesh and Vietnam. Two aspects
of old age that are particularly relevant in Asia are: income security
in old age and access to and quality of healthcare. The report also
focuses on a project with the government of Nepal to analyze the impact
of an Old Age Allowance.
World:
Social
Protection
–
an
Effective
Tool
to
Fight
Inter-
generational
Poverty (February 2007)
This article by Global Action on Aging’s Alischa Kugel and Jennifer
Nazareno, gives an overview of the effective use of social cash
transfers in combating intergenerational poverty. The article also
recaps presentations given by experts on the issue during a UN
Roundtable at the Commission for Social Development and discusses
challenges that must be overcome.
World:
Achieving Decent Work for All Ages (February 9, 2007)
This HelpAge International presentation at the UN Commission
for Social Development makes clear that social protection is the key to
realizing the Millennium Development Goals and satisfies the
commitments of the 1995 Copenhagen Summit for Social Development. The
UN community wants to “place people at the centre of development and
ensure that economic investment is balanced with social policies.” In
the least developed countries, 71% of older men are still in the labor
force, holding informal sector jobs or working in dangerous worksites.
The Decent Work Agenda speaks up for a universal pension system. Indeed
older people living in poor countries are highly concerned, especially
because they need income provision for retirement and as carers of
HIV/AIDS affected families.
World:
Update on Trends in Income Security in Old Age (February 7-9, 2007)
This report by the International Labour Organization
discusses the effects of aging on the population, in both developed and
developing countries. Developed countries, since they already organized
their system, expect to increase their GDP
expenditure only from 23.4 % to 26.8%. However, this outcome results
from policy changes that push up employment rates and actual retirement
ages and push down benefit levels. In the low income countries, ILO
suggests adoption of non-contributory pensions (social pensions) to
ensure an income to older people. ILO has studied two kinds of
universal basic pension: one paying a regular amount of money to all
men and women over a certain age and another that sets the level of
benefits relating to GDP
per capita.
World: Realizing
Universal Rights to Social Protection. Briefing Paper (November 2006)
Grow Up Free From Poverty is a coalition that first targeted children.
This NGO coalition is now leading a “campaign for the extension and
establishment of social protection measures, specifically cash
transfers.” Social pensions have become a successful form of cash
transfer, alongside family benefits or child allowances. This paper
studies the impact of social protection through an intergenerational
approach. The coalition states that “older women and men are
increasingly the primary caregivers of children made vulnerable by
HIV/AIDS, war and migration, [thus] poverty of older relatives will
impact on the poverty of the younger ones, and vice versa.” From a
political point of view, social protection is a human right developed
in many international conventions; this paper refers to them in an
annex.
World: Why Social Pensions Are
Needed Now (October 2006)
This Help Age International briefing paper describes the
characteristics of social pensions and how they contribute to the
economic development of poor countries. Governments that distribute
social pensions act to reduce poverty and to tackle HIV/AIDS. Indeed,
older persons are often disproportionately affected by poverty because
they don’t receive a regular income. Social pensions also support
economic growth as well as social cohesion and governance: they “should
be regarded as an investment rather than unproductive spending.”
Kenya:
Poverty,
Old
Age and Social Pensions in Kenya (2006)
Although older persons represent a small percentage of
Kenya ’s
population, poverty affects them disproportionably. This International Poverty Center
report highlights the importance of pensions in
combating old age poverty. While only 3% of older Kenyans report receiving a pension,
poverty rates without this income would rise 17.1% for persons of 55
years and 14.6% for persons over 60 years. Examining the possibilities
of expanding the current pension system, the authors discuss
non-contributory social pensions as well as universal pensions to all
older persons over 55 or 60.
Social Protection: The Role of Cash
Transfers (June 2006)
In this publication, the International Poverty Center focuses on the
importance of cash transfers as part of social protection measures to
combat poverty. Authors discuss policy makers’ considerations, such as
targeted vs. universal delivery of the transfers, their long and short
term effects, case studies on universal income grants from Africa, new
initiatives in Asia and conditional cash transfer models in Latin
America. Lastly, a bilateral donor representative presents his view on
cash transfers and details how donor countries and developing countries
can work together to provide more effective support to the scheme.
World: Universal Pensions for Developing
Countries (May 2006)
Governments of New Zealand, Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana,
Bolivia, Nepal, Samoa, Brunei, Kosovo and Mexico City provide a basic
pension to the elderly with no test other than citizenship, residence
and age. These universal non-means-tested pensions automatically
protect an entire population, in a way that contributory, earnings
related pensions never can. However few countries implement this kind
of pension. The World Bank opposes such a system for reasons like:
younger generations should have priority in the social budget or
universal pensions “crowd out” private transfers. However, universal
pensions are not a “costly luxury,” rather, the report demonstrates
that developing countries can afford this system.
World: Shaping
the Future of Social Protection: Access, Financing and Solidarity
(April 2006)
This in-depth report highlights the outcome the of recent UN Economic
Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) conference in Uruguay. Experts in this
UN commission focus on Latin America
’s current pension and health systems and their impact on impoverished
older persons. The document offers analyses of social protection
programs in the region, providing useful information on how Latin
American nations are addressing the needs of their aging population.
The authors point out the financial challenges governments face in
implementing social programs and give recommendations for possible
solutions.
India: Bottom-up
Evaluation of Non-Contributory Social Protection Policy for Rural
Labourers in India (October 2005)
The Chronic Poverty Research Centre based in the UK
recently released a report evaluating the effectiveness of
non-contributory social protection programs on the poverty levels of
workers in rural India. The study points out differences between
effective implementation strategies and program outcome. In the case of
rural Indian workers, the study shows the implementation of
non-contributory social protection schemes increase the power of local
powerbrokers over rural workers. At the same time, social protection
plans tend to help reduce poverty levels of rural Indians. Experts
caution that government officials may try to influence outcome
indicators.
World: Age and Security: How
Social Pension Can Deliver Effective Aid To Poor Older People and Their
Families (2004)
This HelpAge International report makes a strong case for
providing universal non-contributory pensions - "social pensions" - to
older people in developing countries. It describes how social pensions
effectively target aid, reducing the poverty of older people and the
families they so often support.
Africa: Non Contributory
Pensions and Poverty: A Comparative Study of Brazil and South
Africa (2003)
A comparative study of non-contributory
pensions, published by Help Age International, provides evidence of how
non-contributory pension programs affect the well-being and the
security of older people and their families. An international team of
researchers studied non-contributory pension programs in
Brazil
and South Africa and found that the programs had a positive effect on bringing
households out of poverty. This innovative program could help other
developing countries in the future.
Implementation
Each government
that has a social pensions program uses a slightly different system to
distribute benefits. Most nations give a monthly or bimonthly pension,
ranging from $2 in Nepal, to about $130 in South Africa. Nepal and
India provide the lowest pensions, whereas South Africa and Argentina
provide the highest. Bolivia offers the “Bonosol,” a benefit of $225 a
year. Some countries like Chile and Mexico combine their social pension
schemes with food and health care programs. Although in absolute cash
value social pensions are not worth a lot of money, they represent a
significant source of income for poor older persons.
Africa
Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho,
Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia
Uganda: Senior Citizens Petition Museveni Over
Pension, Access to Health (November 21, 2010)
Older persons in Uganda are petitioning for access to health centers
across the country and access to their pensions considering only 7.1%
of older persons in Uganda recieve it.
Uganda: Social Services Better than Cash for the
Poor (October 5, 2010)
The government of Uganda is formulating a social protection policy for
the elderly. This program, run through the DFID (Department for
International Development), aims to provide the elderly with a cash
allowance allowing them to buy necessities such as food and medicine.
However, there will be a trial period first analyzing the income of the
elderly and determining whether rehabilitation centers equipped with
food and medicine would be better than cash.
South Africa: Elderly in Row Over Pension (May 25, 2010)
In Soweto, South Africa, three older people have accused the South
African Social Security Agency (Sassa) of declining their applications
for old age grants because their spouses are government employees. The
three older persons are qualified by age to receive the grants. But the
Government agency, Sassa, claims that their spouses make more than R53,
000 and thus are not entitled to the payments.
South Africa: 60-Year-Olds Urged to Apply for Pension
(April 6, 2010)
The Black Sash, a non- governmental human rights organization in South
Africa, has announced that the qualifying age for men for the
means-tested pension is now equivalent to that for women. This will
bring needed relief to thousands of senior citizens. The Black Sash
intends to advocate for the removal of the means test from the
qualifications assessment. They are advocating for a universal old age
pension.
Tanzania: Help Needed to Rear the New Generation
(November 12, 2009)
(Article in French)
Older persons in many African countries, especially older women, have
to take care of their orphaned grandchildren. However, these people are
marginalized from government welfare programs that tend to focus solely
on children or persons with disabilities. These grandparents need help
from their governments and access to social pensions or micro-credits
for those who can still work.
South Africa: Country's Social Security on
the Right Track (November 9, 2009)
The Social Assistance Act implemented in 2008, lowering the qualifying
age for men to receive old age pension, has progressed productively,
according to South African Public Works Minister Doige. A consolidated
report that will soon be publicly presented includes proposals for
further advancement and growth of the social assistance programs,
including the old age pension.
Nigeria:
Non-contributory
Pension
Scheme Fraught with Corruption (May 20, 2009)
At the National Conference on the Implementation of Pension Reforms
held in Abuja, President Umaru Yar‘Adua said that a non-contributory
pension scheme, which was operated before the pension reforms of 2003,
was corruption-ridden. To him, the pension reform was the way out of
the many problems of pensions in Nigeria. He noted that Nigeria need to
consider a non-contributory pension scheme (social pension) currently
being operated aside the new scheme for the purpose of addressing the
problems facing it.
Swaziland: Non-contributory Pension Schemes Key – ISSA
(December 31. 2008)
The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has honored
Swaziland for its social pension policies as one of the few developing
nations with one. ISSA asserts that giving money to older aged citizens
supports them as they support their own families who have been ravaged
by the effects of the HIV/Aids epidemic.
Africa: New
Social Policy Framework for Africa (November 3, 2008)
Fifty-three member states of the African Union agreed on the first ever
Social Policy Framework for Africa, which includes policy
recommendations to expand and improve their social protection plan.
This marks a great leap in meeting the basic needs of all marginalized
groups, including older persons, by improving social programs such as
pensions while providing security and assistance.
South Africa: Social Grants to Bring Relief to
Soaring Food Prices (October 24, 2008)
To guard against the rising cost of food and fuel, the South African
government has increased social assistance grants including those for
older persons. The grant will move from R940 to R960. Although this
move is costly to the State, it will increase the security of food for
the elderly and their families.
Africa:
First
Ministerial
Conference On Social Development in Africa (October
27, 2008)
The African ministers whose focus is social development in Africa
participated in a conference with the goal of adopting a Social Policy
Framework to confront poverty and inequality while at the same time
encouraging healthier lives of the African people. HelpAge
International, along with many other NGO’s, civil society organizations
and national governments worked together to share recommendations and
expertise prior to the conference.
Malawi: Govt. To Introduce
Social Pension for Elderly (September 26, 2008)
Malawi is introducing a social pension scheme for older persons.
Announcing the scheme, Clement Khembo, the Minister responsible for
People with Disabilities and the Elderly, said, "Not all elderly people
are struggling with life. In its initial stages, the scheme will target
all those who are very poor to afford sustenance. Those in the rural
areas, who have even no houses." The President of Malawi, Bingu
Mutharika, is also a strong supporter of improving the welfare of older
persons.
South Africa: New Law Equalising Age for Pensions
Passeed (July 13, 2008)
The Social Assistance Act has lowered the qualifying age for men to
receive social pension payments, so that the age now matches the
qualifying age for women. This Act will increase the distribution of
necessary financial aid that will keep older individuals and their
families from poverty.
Mozambique: Just Give Money to the Poor (July 11,
2008)
Joseph Hanlon of Open University in the UK discusses how Mozambique can
afford to adopt a “cash transfer scheme” to relieve and encourage the
poor. This scheme would offer non- contributory pension to the elderly
as part of a social protection plan for the poor. He asserts that
social pension for older persons is an effective way to get families
out of poverty.
Zambia: Government Discards the Elderly
(September 20, 2007)
The author of this article calls on the Zambian government to step up
its efforts to protect older persons. While Zambia provides pensions to
formal sector workers, most people work in the informal sector and do
not receive payments. Activists also critizise the country’s free
medical scheme for those 65 and older, saying that while the
consultation is free, drugs are not. Senior citizen organizations are
calling on the government to implement a universal social pension to
help older persons cope with HIV/AIDS care-taking responsibilities and
to provide for a decent old age.
Uganda: Poor Ugandans to Get Monthly
Allowance (August 9, 2007)
Uganda, with the
help of the UK’s Department for International Development and aid
organizations such as HelpAge International, will start paying a
monthly allowance of $10 to the country’s “chronically” poor, often
times older persons. Families whose household include an older person
will get an additional $6.00. The scheme, based on similar models in
countries such as Brazil and Mozambique, will particularly help
grandparents taking care of children whose parents have dies of
HIV/AIDS.
Africa: Social Change Lags Behind
Africa's Economic Growth (July 17, 2007)
The recently released 2006 State of the African Population report
revealed that “half of Africa lives in extreme poverty and one-third
lives in hunger.” While the economy is developing, few people benefit
socially. This is due, in part, to a lack of education, inadequate
investments in human capital, gender inequalities and youth
marginalization, which keep people in chronic poverty. There are
positive experiences. South Africa has about 12 million social security
grant recipients, including older persons, children and the disabled.
Experts from the government affirm that: “with the 100 percent take-up
rate of those who qualify for grants, they are actually able to almost
completely eradicate extreme poverty amongst children and older
persons." Africa has another opportunity to seize: the 2010 FIFA World
Cup South Africa that will provide a platform to highlight issues such
as poverty.
Africa:
Activists
for
the Aged Press for Greater Care, Pensions in Africa
(February 19, 2007)
The growing number of senior citizens is an increasing
pressure on African governments. Numerous organizations ask for the
implementation of social pensions to help older persons as well as
their families get out of poverty. According to Tavengwa Nhongo,
regional representative for HelpAge International based in Nairobi,
Kenya, social pensions are affordable even for the poorest countries.
Research data found that only 1.5% of GDP is required. Those pensions
reduce older people’s poverty by 94%. This article gives many examples
of fruitful experiments to implement universal pensions, constitutional
guarantees to protect the elderly or national social security systems.
South
Africa: Nest-Egg for All (February 16, 2007)
South Africa has a widespread social security system. However
the old-age pension (social pension) is only available to the very poor
and is funded from current budget revenues. The government is looking
to create “a compulsory earnings-related social security system that
will include retirement benefits for all citizens.” Indeed South
Africa’s pension system is organized with a first and a third pillar,
namely a welfare-based old-age pension and private savings. President
Thabo Mbeki, during his State of the Nation address’ speech, stated
that workers will soon be bound to contribute to a state fund, which
will provide universal retirement benefits.
Lesotho: Lesotho Pension System Proves Sceptics Wrong (November 5, 2006)
The small country of Lesotho that is surrounded by South Africa has
followed its great neighbor’s example: the government has implemented
an old-age pension. For the past two years, all citizens over 70 years
benefit from a monthly pension of 150 maloti (R150). Despite the
skepticism of the International Monetary Fund that feared corruption,
the government plans to distribute R150 to more older persons. Lesotho
can be proud about creating this pension that helps some of the 56%
inhabitants living on less than $2 per day (about 15 maloti).
Zambia: African Governments
Take Action on Social Protection (March 28, 2006)
HelpAge International highlights the importance of last week’s
conference on National Social Protection in Livingstone, Zambia. The
governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and
Zimbabwe, plus UN agencies and development partners gathered to assess
the impact of social pensions. In a region afflicted by extreme poverty
and HIV/AIDS, 47 million older persons face terrible conditions. Social
pensions and cash transfers aim to mediate this situation and improve
the standard of living for older adults and their families. Government
representatives reaffirmed their promise to establish social protection
programs for older persons. For
further
information
and
resources
on
Social
Protection,
please
visit
HelpAge
press release section.
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Americas
and
the
Caribbean
Venezuela: Nearly
12,000 Venezuelans to Receive Social Security
(June 19, 2011)
(Article
in Spanish)
The Social Security Institute of Venezuela has reformed their
pension policy to include a greater range of eligible persons. Now, men
who are
60 years old and women who are 55 will be able to receive monthly
pensions. The
number of pensioners has increased greatly in the last decade due to
the
numerous legal reforms that now allow over two million people to enjoy
the new
source of income.
Peru: Peruvians Elect New
President on
Pension Promise (June 16, 2011)
Influenced by the advocacy of HelpAge International’s partners,
Peruvians over the age of 65 have now come a step closer to receiving
social pensions after the election of Ollanta Humala-- who proposed the
“Pension 65” program-- as their new president. The new program would
provide 250 soles (US$90) to every older person over 65, gradually
starting with those over 75 years old.
Report: Ecuador: The Aging and Pension Board
for Older Persons and People with Disabilities is now Depositing
Pensions into Savings Accounts (June 7, 2011)
(Report in Spanish)
On June 6, 2011, a new
payment plan for social pensions was signed. The act will allow senior
citizens and people with disabilities to have their pensions deposited
directly into a savings
accounts opened for them by the Central Bank of Ecuador. This new
payment plan will eliminate the cost of processing each check and save
a total of $27,000 nationwide in processing fees on a monthly basis.
Canada:
Community
Organizations
Will
Receive
$11
Million
for
Seniors
(March
6, 2011)
(Article in French)
The Quebec government will spend $11 million to improve living
conditions for older people. The money will go to 170 organizations
working for the elderly. For example, the Federation of the Golden Age
of Quebec will receive $100,000 to fight against financial abuse of
older persons. Another $608,000 will be granted to the Quebec
Association of Gerontology to campaign against discrimination based on
age.
Bolivia: The Pensions Reform Bill Proposes a
State Insurance (October 25, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Bolivia's government is negotiating with workers and associations of
older people the new Pensions Act. The bill provides, among other
things, the creation of a state insurer to administer the payment of
pensions creates an invalidity pension and secure benefits for widows
even if they marry again.
Nicaragua: Fourth Day of Protests by
Older Adults for a Pension (October 16, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
A group of older people protested before the Nicaraguan Social Security
Institute (INSS) in Managua to demand a pension. In the country there
are thousands of older adults who do not meet the minimum number of
payments, 750 weeks, which is what is required to qualify for a
pension.
Mexico: Only 27% of Elderly
People in Mexico Receive Pension, the Poorest Have None: Cepal (October
10, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Only 27 percent of older adults in Mexico have a pension or retirement
money given to them by the government, according to research by the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal). The
percentage drops to almost negligible among the lower social classes.
Argentina:
Pensions: the Argentine Model (September 13, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Two years after the
nationalization of the private pension system in Argentina, the debate
remains open. The government of Cristina Fernandez defended the process
and notes that guarantee a dignified retirement and insurance to
retirees. However, some critics say the system is fragile.
Trinidad
and
Tobago:
Going 60 Will Bankrupt Us (August 11, 2010)
The debate on retirement ages and pension plan cuts continues in
Trinidad and Tobago. Discussions on the current state of pensions and
dropping the retirement age to 60 shed light on the dangers and
possible advantages of these actions. It also highlights the complexity
of the state of affairs for older persons in the country today.
Report:
Latin
America:
Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions, Impact on Poverty
and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries (May 2010)
This report examines the universal minimum old age pensions in 18 Latin
American countries, including their fiscal cost and impact on poverty.
The authors of the report explain how a universal minimum pension would
reduce poverty among older people in Latin America (except in
Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay where minimum pension system already
exist and poverty rates are low). Also discussed in the report, are old
age poverty rates in Latin American countries, and the design of the
minimum pension schemes as well as their impact on the economy.
Bolivia:
Bolivia
Unprepared
for Population Increase of Older persons (May 16,
2010)
(Article in Spanish)
Bolivia will almost double its population of citizens, aged 60 and
older, in twenty years; in 2,000 there were 537,452 and in 2020 the
numbers will rise to 1,007,155 people. Some associations have warned
that Bolivia is not ready for this increase because the state benefit,
'Renta Dignidad,' is not sufficient to ensure quality of life for older
people.
Trinidad
and Tobago: Browne: $21m for Higher Pensions (May 5, 2010)
Amery Browne, the Minister of Social Development of Trinidad and Tobago
who is contesting his seat again in the upcoming elections, announced a
raise in the old age pension. The increase along with other retirement
benefits will cost the State $21 million more a year. The national
grant for senior citizens with no source of income has increased from
$1,950 to $2,500, representing a 28.2 percent increase.
Trinidad
and
Tobago:
Pensions Go Up to $2,500: PNM in Election Love (May 3, 2010)
In the heat of campaigns for the upcoming May 21st general elections in
Trinidad and Tobago, the People's National Movement (PNM) has promised
to raise pensions to $2,500 for 45,000 senior citizens and increase the
minimum payable pension of retired public servants to $2,500. The PNM
also proposes to remove the property tax for citizens on public
assistance and those receiving the Senior Citizens’ grant. This
election has brought promising words to the older persons of the
country from all of the competing parties.
Trinidad
and
Tobago:
Pensioners get Increase, but Heavily Taxed (May 1, 2010)
Old age pensioners have won pension increases ranging from 13.5 to 35
percent. However, the increases have been heavily taxed, according to
one pensioner’s interview.
Trinidad
and
Tobago:
NIS Consultant Predicts 'Drastic Changes' (March 5, 2010)
The National Insurance System (NIS) of Trinidad and Tobago controls the
country’s social insurance and provides pension payments to retirees.
After scathing scandals and corruption, the NIS has some new plans.
Hubert Dolsingh, an NIS consultant, discusses lowering the lump sum
payment for pensioners, increasing the qualifying age and changing the
formula determining payment amounts. So far, there is no comment on how
this will affect older persons in the country.
Bolivia:
The
Credibility
of Campaign Promises (November 23, 2009)
President Evo Marales is expected to win another term in government
mostly due to his successful implementation of social protection grants
like the Renta Dignidad for people over 60 years old. This grant has
served approximately 744,000 Bolivians since Evo Morales has assumed
the presidency.
Brazil:
Brazil
Aid
Program Making Inroads against Hunger (November 13, 2009)
Brazil’s Bolsa Familia, a social pension program, spearheaded by
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been lauded by various
organizations including the World Bank. Older people in Brazil benefit
directly. The Bolsa Familia has greatly helped in the fight against
poverty. Its simplicity, the use of an electronic base and
decentralization of the Bolsa Familia are some of the technical
innovations that have contributed to the success of this social policy.
Other countries should take notes.
US: SNAP
Getting Food Stamps to Elderly (August 17, 2009)
In Florida many eligible older persons who have not signed up for
welfare. Now, they are now starting to receive federal money as part of
the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The 2008
average per household from the SNAP grant was about $227, which can be
spent by using an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, similar to a debit
card. In this article, the writer addresses many myths and facts about
the SNAP program as well.
Peru:
The
State
Evaluates
Offering
Pensions
to
Poor
Elders
(July
28,
2009)
(Article in Spanish)
The government of Peru is studying the possibility of offering
non-contributory pensions (for people who did not contribute during
their working life) to approximately three million older persons who
have found themselves in a state of material abandonment. The program
will be similar to Junto, an existing program that offers S/. 100 to
women in rural areas who comply with sending their children to school
and to medical centers to be immunized.
Peru: 100 Soles Proposed for People Older
than 65 (April 22, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
The authors of the book Aging with Dignity concluded that a special
non-contributive pension of 100 soles would benefit over 500 thousand
older adults in Peru. Representatives from different ministries met to
discuss ways to fight poverty. They agreed that this pension would have
to be accompanied by medical services, education, drinking water and
electricity for the older population, who also are the most vulnerable.
Brazil: Brazil Extends Bolsa Familia During the Economic Crisis (March
20, 2009)
(Article Also in Spanish)
Bolsa Familia, the largest cash transfer program in the
world, providing benefits for over 11 million families, is a social
pension program that’s been copied throughout the world. In Brazil’s
case, the income support of families is conditional: they must meet
human development requirements such as school attendance, vaccinations
and proper nutrition. The program requires families to take advantage
of resources that otherwise would confine generations to a life of
poverty.
Bolivia:
Evo
Asks
for an Increase in the Renta Dignidad (July 24, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
The government has recently
asked Congress to increase the amount of pension provided by Renta
Dignidad to retirees and elderly with no other source of income. This
increase, funded by the revenue resulting from the Direct Tax on
Hydrocarbons, will help many of the nation’s elderly.
Bolivia-
Social Pensions in Bolivia (June 17, 2008)
(Article in Spanish)
In January 2008, the government instituted la Renta Dignidad, a
non-contributory pension that provides Bolivians over 60 with Bs 200 a
month. La Renta Dignidad, which replaced the Bonosol—the country’s
former social pension plan--increased the amount of pension and lowered
the minimum age of recipients. As a result, 676,000 elderly are now
receiving pensions as opposed to 489,000 under the Bonosol. The social
pension is the only source of income to 50% of its recipients and is
used for necessities, mostly food and medications.
Bolivia: Renta Dignidad
(April 2008)
La Renta Dignidad, which is a non-contributory pension in Bolivia, is
essential to the survival of 29% of the population living there for
under $1 per day. Bolivia is the only country in Latin America with a
non-contributory pension. La Renta Dignidad decreased the eligibility
age and increased the amount of pension distributed in the country’s
initial plan, the Bonosol. Many give credit to the National Association
of Older People for advocating to improve the social pension and making
older Bolivians’ lives much better. Now the Association is working to
implement non-contributory pensions all over Latin America.
Paraguay: The Elderly March Tomorrow in
Search of a Social Pension and a Food Pension (September 30, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
On the International Day of Older Persons, a group of elder Paraguay
pensioners and their supporters will demonstrate and demand action to
approve a law providing a social pension and a food pension to people
over 60 years living without any income. The law will propose a social
pension of no less than one fourth the minimum wage. The march will
take place on October first and is organized by CAMA (Counsel of the
Elderly in Asuncion)
Chile: Chamber of Deputies Approve Provisional Reform that Permits
Banks to Enter AFP (August 29, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
President Michelle Bachelet’s provisional legislation to improve the
pension system and the condition of retired citizens was approved by
the Chamber of Deputies. One of the highlights was the agreement to
permit banks to enter the “Insuring Pension Funds Entity” (AFP).
Another major accomplishment was the “Solidarity Pension” which
establishes a basic pension of 75,000 pesos ($147) (known as a social
pension) for those elderly citizens who are not otherwise eligible for
a pension. According to a government official, once the reform begins
to take effect, 1.1 million Chileans will have new benefits, a minimum
pension, assuring security and dignity.
Bolivia:
Social
Pensions,
Older
People
Were
Cheated
(June
28,
2007)
(Article in Spanish)
The writer describes how schemers cheat older people out of their
social pensions in Bolivia. In one scam, persons carried fake
identification papers and passed through the registration process and
received the social pension. Other scam artists recruit old, poor and
illiterate persons to apply for the social pension and rob them as soon
as they receive the money. In another case, a daughter cheated her
mother by forcing her to apply for the pension and then robbed her. Law
officials are investigating to learn if there is an organized network
involved in this terrible scam operation. Of course, this cheating and
robbery undermines public confidence in the efficacy of the social
pension administration system in Bolivia.
Bolivia: AFPs Cheat on Retired People. (May 17, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
Bolivian retirees (people older than 65 years old), receive a social
pension from the AFPs, Bolivia's leading pension fund administrator, of
1800 bolivianos (USD225). Recently around 300 people in Bolivia went to
the bank to get the payment and were told that another person already
had claimed it. Retired people think that a company stole the data base
from the AFPs. Retirees asked the AFPs to replace the payment. AFPs
denied any responsibility for the theft. Getting nowhere, the old
people registered their claim with Human Rights organizations, with the
Police and with the Public Ministry. Not a single person has yet
received the payment. Most suspect that they will never get it.
Uruguay: A New Social Program for Older Persons Will Triple the
Beneficiaries over the Previous Program (March 28, 2007)
(Article in Spanish)
In September, a new social program will reach out to include nearly one
million more people who live in poverty. The previous Plan reached the
poorest poor, while the new program gives all poor families access to
health, education, and jobs. The program’s old age cash allowance will
now reach all those who are 65 and older, instead of 70 years of
age.
Chile: Chilean Leader Proposes Soc.
Sec. Reform (December 15, 2006)
Speaking before a retirees’ organization, President Michelle
Bachelet announced a change in the pension system: she expects that one
million of people, generally without any coverage, would benefit from a
non-contributory pension, estimated at $141 per month. Mothers,
particularly women who left the workforce to raise their children, will
receive an additional pension benefit. President M. Bachelet said she
wants to “guarantee the security of a dignified old age.”
Argentina: Extended Moratorium for
Retirees (October 23, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
In Argentina, elderly people
who do not meet the required number of employment years for retirement
are eligible for a plan that will allow them to receive pension.
Argentine President Néstor Kirchner postponed the moratorium for
older people to join this plan. This plan not only benefits the
elderly, but also those who were forced into retirement due to
unemployment after 30 years of registered employment.
Argentina: Plans to Improve Retirement
Plans (October 8, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
In light of Argentina
’s economic crisis in the years 2001 and 2002, different companies,
with the help of consultants, came up with ideas of how to improve
retirement plans. The result is that three out of ten leading companies
now have an optional retirement plan in addition to governmental
pension. Consultants predict that this trend will contribute to the
development of trust funds.
Chile: Pension Reform to Combat
Systemic Poverty (September 15, 2006)
In 20 years only half of the Chilean citizens will receive more than
the minimum pension. Mrs. Bachelet’s government will submit a bill to
Congress by December to strengthen solidarity pensions and to reduce
gender inequalities. However, some trade unions oppose the government’s
maintaining the Pinochet system that requires an individual
capitalization system. This privatized system, the first in Latin
America, has failed to provide sufficient income for most seniors and
soaks up a lot of revenue in operating costs.
Mexico A Pre-Election Quarantine
Takes Effect (May 22, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
To prevent public officers’ misuse of social programs during the last
month of the presidential campaign, the Mexican Electoral Institute has
put a quarantine into effect prohibiting all governmental agencies and
public authorities from making any attempt to influence citizens’
voting preference. In practice, this decree means that some
institutions will have to stop some of their social programs. In
Tamaulipas, for instance, the office for the Development of Older
Persons will no longer distribute a weekly food basket to a group of
extremely impoverished older persons. Presidential candidates have
strongly focused their campaigns on a theme of social development and
helping vulnerable groups, especially older persons.
Venezuela: Government
Makes Late Payment to Older Persons Enrolled in Social Pension Program
(May 17, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The Venezuelan government started the late payment of its monthly
social benefit to older persons last week. Apparently, there were
problems regarding the transfer of funds from the Treasury to the
National Institute of Social Services. Older persons were unable to
receive their pension in April. The government has guaranteed to solve
the problems the program faces, and has also announced that it will
increase the amount of the benefit.
Bolivia:
The
Government
Guarantees the Payment of the Bonosol (May 16, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The Bolivian government recently nationalized the gas
industry. Since 1998, Bolivia has provided—using the tax revenues from
this industry—older persons, above 65, with an annual social pension of
$ 225. Many fear that the government’s bold measure of taking over the
gas industry will jeopardize the Bonosol. However, the president has
assured Bolivians that the government will continue offering this
pension. The possible change, though, might be that the Bonosol will no
longer be universal, and available to all persons over 65 years,
instead it may be given to only the poorest. Means testing is expensive
since the country must set up a bureaucracy to verify who is "poor."
Mexico: 390,000 Older Adults
Benefit from Universal Pensions in Mexico City (April 2, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
A few years ago, the government of Mexico City pioneered with a program
directed to help the elderly. Every older adult —above 65—has the right
to a monthly pension of $70 as well as access to free medical check-ups
and prescribed drugs. This month the number of beneficiaries reached
390, 000. Local authorities, in an effort to fight back strong
criticism from the opposition, stressed that the social pension scheme
is not jeopardizing the government’s finances. Supporters of the
universal pension model argue that Mexico has the means to implement
social pensions at a national level. Although there are a number of
programs that reach older persons, most older Mexicans do not have a
pension and live in poverty.
Uruguay: Pension Systems in
Latin America and the Caribbean Need to Be Reformed, States ECLAC (UN
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) (March 23,
2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The ECLAC’s aging focal group presented a document on the future of
social protection during a recent ECLAC session meeting in Montevideo,
Uruguay. Latin America and the Caribbean urgently need income support
in old age for their citizens. Only 4 out of 10 older persons in the
region currently receive a pension. Many workers, especially women,
work in the informal sector or in temporary jobs and, therefore, will
not have access to benefits with the current system. Furthermore, ECLAC
stresses the importance of expanding pension coverage and creating a
system to address the needs of a rapidly increasing aging population.
Guatemala: Constitutional Court
Approves Law on Social Pensions for Older Adults (March 15, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The Guatemalan Constitutional Court has ordered the publication of the
new legislation on the Program of Economic Support for Older Adults.
The legislation enables persons above 65—who are not enrolled in a
pension plan--to claim a social benefit of $65 a month. Much
controversy arose around this bill because Congress passed the
legislation early this year without executive approval. The bill did
not receive executive power support because the government lacks the
necessary resources to implement the program. María Antonia
Bonilla, Minister of Finances, states that there is not enough money in
the treasury; however, the government might make an effort to
redistribute resources and modify its budget.
Chile: Bachelet Initiates Presidency Readjusting Pensions (March 13,
2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The new Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, sees readjusting pensions
as her top priority. The government will raise the minimum pension
amount (now about $76 per month) to stabilize the retirees’ economic
situation. More than a million older Chileans will benefit from this
measure. Other social projects aimed at the elderly and persons with
disabilities include the implementation of a universal pension system.
Bachelet’s social agenda is based on quick, cost-effective actions to
tackle poverty and create high impact reforms.
Mexico: Universal Pensions Would Be
Financially Possible, Says Study (March 1, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
The Center for Research and Faculty of Economics (Centro de
Investigación y Docencia Económicas) in Mexico says in a
recent study that a system of universal pensions would be both sensible
and financially possible. With the number of older people increasing
sharply and the levels of poverty among the elderly rising, universal
pensions are now very much needed. If managed properly, the cost of
such a program will only be about 0.35% of the national budget. Mexico
has a great gap between the poor and the rich according to age, where
70% of older adults live in poverty. A universal pension system would
help reduce older persons’ precarious conditions in a cost-effective
manner.
Mexico:
Fox
Announced
Social Pensions for the Elderly (January 7, 2006)
(Article in Spanish)
President Fox announced that this January the government will start its
monthly payment of social pensions to the elderly affiliated to the
program “Oportunidades.” “Oportunidades” is a social development
project based on the premise of families saving for the future. There
are currently 200,000 families enrolled in this program. The federal
government will reward each family with a bonus that will double their
savings. Fox stated that the program will target particularly rural and
indigenous populated areas, promoting health, education, housing and
pension benefits as fundamental elements for aging with dignity.
Back to Top
Asia/Pacific
Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam
Philippines: More Baguio
Senior Citizens Get Taste of
Social Pension (June 21, 2011)
Thanks to the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, 34 seniors
from the city of Baguio received a social pension in the amount of
1,500
Philippine Pesos (= USD34.5). According to the City Social Welfare
Officer,
about 78 older people in Baguio City should receive the social pension.
The
allowance granted to the poorest is to be used for buying medicines,
essential
goods and access to health services.
Philippines:
Limits
on
Pension Rights for Elderly Draw Flak (September 6, 2010)
The Philippine government gives pensions to only those 80 years and
above excluding the estimated 4.1 million elderly who are 60 years and
older and in need of the pension.
India: Social
Security System Towards Global Standards (May 24, 2010)
The coverage of the social security system in India is minimal in
comparison to that of more developed countries. The author discusses
how the Indian pension schemes do not extend beyond 10% of the
population who are formally employed, leaving many non-contributors
without a plan or income for their older years.
India: Demand to
MCD: Give Pension to Elderly Sex Workers (May 19, 2010)
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi gave its approval to include the
physically challenged, widows and notoriously eschewed eunuchs in its
pension scheme. An NGO has demanded that sex workers be included in the
pension scheme as well. The NGO states that poverty and starvation
affect many sex workers; a decent pension would benefit them
enormously.
India: Pensioners
in Haryana to get Biometric Cards (March 25, 2010)
Technology is making pensions in India more accessible and less of a
hassle. In a new project, biometric cards will be issued to pensioners
in certain districts. Direct deposit will also be used for payouts to
pensioners.
Philippines:
Seniors
Without Pensions to Get Government Aid (July 2, 2009)
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has created a
social pension program for older persons. It is targeted at persons 70
years old and older who are poor and are not members of a pension plan.
Moreover, the DSWD has prepared a package of after-care services for
older prison inmates, including provision of temporary cash assistance,
employment, livelihood and educational assistance.
China: China
to Launch Rural Social Pension Projects (June 25, 2010)
In a meeting that included China's Premier Wen Jiabao, China's State
Council decided to launch social pension pilot projects that would
reduce rural poverty and encourage social stability.
China:
Experts
Urge
Stimulus Package on Social Welfare (June 24, 2009)
In response to the global financial crisis, experts in China have
called for their government to create new social pension programs to
help the older population remain stable. Analysts also call for more
programs focused on youth development, sound social security, and the
overall strengthening of human capital.
Thailand:
Advocates Call for Social Pension Scheme in Developing Countries (June
2, 2009)
Eduardo Klein of HelpAge International says that the social pension is
a tool for governments to pull people out of poverty. HelpAge and other
NGOs are advocating for developing countries to increase their social
protection plans especially with respect to social pensions.
Thailand: Thai PM
Guarantees Older People’s Right to Social Pension (April 15, 2009)
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has declared social
pensions a basic human right and will seek ways to expand the country's
current pension system to deliver income security for all older people.
From April 2009, Thailand’s citizens aged 60 and above who are not
receiving any government subsidies are eligible for a monthly payment
of 500-baht (US$14). This, along with existing pension schemes, covers
more than 5 million older people--71.4% of older people in Thailand.
Philippines:
Government
Should
Provide Social Pension for Poor Senior Citizens
(March 19, 2009)
The Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) is pushing for
Congressional approval of a bill that would assure very poor older
Filopinos a monthly social pension. Despite the facts that the
Philippines is only one of two Asian countries without any social
pension for older persons and evidence clearly demonstrates the
benefits of social pensions, the proposed bills are not gaining ground
in the Philippine legislature.
India: Aging in
India (March 17, 2009)
India has the second largest population of older adults in the world.
Very few older persons are covered by any kind of social pension or
social security system, and rely on traditional patterns of family
care. Problems of globalization compound the problem, e.g., there are
more women in the workforce, smaller families and high mobility. All
these obstacles limit the ability of families to provide for their
older members.
Thailand: New
Working Group Will Champion Pension for Thailand (January 19, 2009)
HelpAge International has coordinated a group from academia, government
and UN members to advocate for a universal pension scheme in Thailand.
The current means- tested scheme only benefits very poor older persons,
while the universal one will increase the coverage and benefit of the
social pension plan.
India:
Social
Security
to Become a Right (August 22, 2008)
The Union Cabinet has approved the Unorganized Sector Workers’ Social
Security Bill. People working in the unorganized sector will gain
increased rights. The bill will provide pension rights for the aged and
insurance for accidental death.
China:
New Pension Insurance Scheme in Rural China Benefits Older People
(August 4, 2008)
Here’s more information about the new Rural Social Pension Insurance
Program that China is putting in place. The program is one of the
government’s first attempts to decrease poverty among the nation’s
elderly. It provides greater income security to its beneficiaries and
decreases dependency. Although this insurance pension has helped many
older persons, Help Age International maintains that improvements still
need to be made, including an increase in the amount of pension
distributed.
Thailand:
Pro-Aging Strategies for Thai Elders (January 23, 2008)
(Article in Chinese)
Adult children are abandoning an increasing number of elders in
Thailand. The incidence of elders staying alone has risen by 7.1%. The
retirement age may be raised from 60 to 65 years. In 1999, a social
pension system was introduced and both employers and employees
contribute 3% of the salary as premiums. Poor elders without pensions
will get 300 Thai Baht a month for living assistance. In 2005, free
dentures were given to 80,000 elders. Beginning in 2007, elders holding
special assistance passes are receiving free medical treatment at 1,000
designated hospitals.
India: Social Pensions to Benefit
Another 17,456 People in Himachal (August 10, 2007)
Himachal is a state in the north-west of India. The state government
announced recently that 17,456 more people would benefit from social
pensions. Namely in this region more than 200,000 older persons, widows
and people with disability are eligible to receive a monthly
pension.
China: China’s Social
Security Fund Grows Steadily through Sound Investment (April 12, 2007)
(Article in
Chinese)
On April 12, 2007 China’s Social Security Fund Management
Committee announced that the Fund has 280 billion yuan and that
investment of the Fund made a profit of 19.6 billion yuan, a nearly 10%
profit rate, in the last year. Xiang Huaicheng, the Committee Chair,
said that “we had formed a sound and reliable practice of investing the
fund.” Experts believe that the fund should target low-risk investments
with a reliable rate of return.
China: Social Pension Funds Worth of RMB
￥60M Looted Unlawfully by Local
Former Labor Relation Officials (March 10, 2006)
Recently, the National Audit Office uncovered information that local
labor relations officials had unlawfully looted the Honghe County’s
social pension funds worth of approximately RMB￥60 Million. They took the money for
their private use in YunNan Province. By the end of year 2003, only RMB￥1,300 thousand was
left in the pension balance.
China:
Pressures
in
China Over the Issue of
Aging (March 3, 2006)
(Article in Arabic)
In its Second National Conference on Old Age, China
’s State Council called for the urgent establishment and implementation
of a pension system that will secure the basic needs of older persons.
The state council also proposed developing health, culture, education
and physical training programs related to older persons. China
’s aging population now comprises 20% of the global aging population.
The UN expects China
to remain the country with the largest
number of older persons in the world for the first half of the
twenty-first century.
India:
India to Get Its Own Social Security System (January 22, 2006)
The government of India is currently working on a bill to promote the
care, maintenance and protection of senior citizens. The National
Council for Older Persons and several other NGO’s have helped the
government develop its program. The new system will offer services,
such as an old age pension, minimum level of financial security, old
age home in each district and well-equipped wards in each hospital.
South Korea: Government Pushes New Social
Security System for Elderly (May 24, 2005)
The South
Korean Government and ruling Uri Party officials have decided to set up
long-term care insurance for senior citizens as early as 2007 in order
to address the welfare needs brought on by the growing elderly
population.
Back to Top
Europe and Central Asia
Bulgaria,
Croatia,
Ireland,
Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan
France: Pensions and “Minimum
Pension” Increases Starting April 1, 2011 (March 30, 2011)
(Article in French)
To face inflation, the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde announced
a 2.1 percent increase in pensions. Minister of Labor Xavier Bertrand
confirmed an increase of 4.7 percent in minimum pensions. This
allocation is granted to people who have not contributed sufficiently
to the pension plans. The increase of pensions and of the allocation
will be implemented beginning April 1, 2011.
France
: Paris : Creation of “Solidarity Paris” Contributes to Minimum Pension
(February 7, 2011)
(Article in French)
While 12.6% of Parisians 60 to 74 years of age live below the poverty
line, the City of Paris has created a supplement to the Solidarity
Allowance for the Elderly so that no senior will be living with less
than 840 Euros per month. Seniors with less than 1,100 Euros per month
will also be eligible for the aid “Paris Logement [housing].” In
addition, an exemption to the Personal Autonomy Allowance is provided
for seniors whose incomes are less than 1,000 Euros.
France: Strikes Put to a Test the Sarkozy's Pension Reform (October 18,
2010)
(Article in Spanish)
The protests in France against government plans to rise the retirement
age from 60 to 62 years intensified on Tuesday, one day before day the
project will be voted in the Senate. In addition to the demonstrations,
the unions have blocked for a week the 12 French oil refineries and, as
a consequence, hundreds of service stations run out of gas.
Switzerland: UN Urges Developing
Countries to Promote Pensions for Older People (October 1, 2010)
(Article in Spanish)
At the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations will urge
developing countries to establish pension systems for the elderly.
Millions of old people in the world suffer from unequal treatment and
their human rights are denied. Nowadays, one in ten is over 60 years.
Spain: Russian Pensioners in Spain (May 27, 2010)
(Article in Russian)
In Spain, all pensioners are allowed to work although they face a few
conditions: they cannot work full time and must submit an application
to the social security authorities if they do. To become eligible for a
Spanish pension, one must be a legal resident of the country, enter the
country with the intention of working for at least 5 years to replenish
the pension fund, or live in Spain for 5 years as a dependent
relative.
United
Kingdom:
In
Europe, Britain May Face Largest Debt Hurdle (May 24, 2010)
Great Britain is facing debilitating debt, as is the rest of the
European Union. Among the expenditures are blamed in part for their
descent into debt is the country’s “generous” pension commitment.
Government officials must make the hard decision to cut expenditures,
including freezing and curtailing the pension payments. GAA asks
whether increased taxes on the UK richest citizens could help pay off
the debt?
Bulgaria: Social Monthly Pension for Old Age
Increases to 100.86 Leva (May 23, 2010)
A news release from the government of Bulgaria underlines the cabinet
decision to increase the social pension for old age. This increase is
related to a decision to update all pensions by 9 percent as of July 1,
2009.
Ireland:
Coalition
Braced
for Second Showdown with Pensioners (May 14, 2010)
Ireland and other European nations are facing proposals to decrease
non-contributory pensions due to the debt crises they are facing.
Reducing or eliminating social pensions will only hurt the neediest and
most dependent older persons. Recipients of the pension were spared
last year from decreases, but the current debt crises may trigger such
cuts.
Ireland:
Irish
Old
Age Pension Could Be Cut (May 13, 2010)
The Minister of Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív,
may not be able to prevent cutting Ireland’s Old Age Pension. Despite
massive protests by older citizens against proposed policy changes, it
appears likely that the new austerity plan will negatively affect them.
There is still time left for the Minister to confirm any decisions
affecting older people; those who oppose policy changes have promised
to take action.
Ireland: Pension Win for Farmers' Wives (April 8,
2010)
Newly appointed Social Protection Minister Eamon O Cuiv yesterday
reversed the January decision by his predecessor Mary Hanafin to
withdraw pensions from 268 elderly women who had been receiving
contributory pensions for years of work on their family farms. This
decision followed advice from the Attorney General's office and will be
effective retroactively to the date on which pensions were withdrawn or
reduced. All arrears due would be paid.
Ireland: Why Most of Us are Going to Have to Work
Up to 10 Years Longer (March 2, 2010)
In the last four decades, Irish life expectancy has increased by 9 to
10 years. The non- contributory pension scheme faces a heavy burden as
the population steadily ages. In response, the Irish government is
proposing to increase the qualifying age to receive a pension. Can the
citizenry handle putting off retirement for several more years?
Spain: Non-Contributive Pensioners Can Now
Request 425 Euros to Cover Living Expenses (September 19, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
Pensioners who receive non-contributive pensions from Social Security
can now pay their cost of rent and living expenses with the additional
allowance of 425 euros. To be eligible for this financial aid, the
interested older people must prove that they do not possess any
property, that they rent their current home and that they are mentioned
in the lease contract.
France: Pensions: A 7% Increased of the
Social Pension (April 1, 2009)
(Article in French)
In France, older persons living alone and earning less than 677 euros
($920) a month, have the right to receive a social pension. The
government plans to raise the so-called Allocation of Solidarity for
Older Persons (ASPA) by 25% before 2012. After a major decrease of its
beneficiaries since its creation in 1960--thanks to the generalization
of the right to pension--the increase of the social pension will
re-extend the number of eligible seniors and therefore the number of
beneficiaries.
Croatia: SDP: Social Pensions for All
Over 65 (May 7, 2007)
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presented its retirement strategy
included in its electoral program. They reproach the current system,
the HDZ, for impoverishing pensioners; more than a third of Croatians
have pensions lower than 1,600 kuna which is considered borderline
poverty. SPD suggests equalizing everybody’s pensions first. Then they
would establish social pensions for all people over 65 years old who do
not have any income.
Bulgaria: Economic and Social
Development Pact Signed in Bulgaria (October 2, 2006)
Following the announcement of Bulgaria’s entry into the European Union
in January 2007, the national government signed an Economic and Social
Development Pact (ESDP). Bulgaria revealed its new political program to
increase the standard of living of citizens, as much as economic
growth. As for older persons, socially disadvantaged retirees will
receive a social pension that will be half of the minimum wage. That’s
a significant forward step!
Russia: A Line for the Poor (September 22,
2006)
(Article in Russia)
The line of people who want to receive monetary compensation instead of
social benefits grows every minute. The local offices of the Russian
Pension Fund are crowded from the early mornings. People cannot
understand why they have to go through this exhausting process one more
time, when in June they already made their choices. According to the
legislature, a pensioner has to confirm his or her choice every year.
Members of Parliament, however, did not take into account that it might
be not that easy for older persons to stand in a line for several
hours, waiting until a social officer accepts their application once
again.
Russia: Social Benefits or Money? (September 21, 2006)
(Article in Russian)
Only
10
days
are left for pensioners to decide whether they prefer to
receive monetary
compensation or they would like to enjoy social benefits such as free
medication and transportation. Those who prefer monetary compensation
have to file an application with the local division of the Pension Fund
not later than October 1, 2006. It seems, however, that there is no
right choice: the prices for the medication increase every day, so that
whatever money a pensioner gets, will be wasted because of inflation;
and those who do not travel every day do not need free transportation
benefits.
Ireland: Standard Scheme
Expected to Result in Higher Pensions for Thousands (June 9, 2006)
The Irish legislative body approved a new social welfare law reform and
pensions act. A new pension framework will take effect September 2006
and will combine all non-contributory payments for people 66 years of
age and older into one standard pension scheme. The government expects
this reform to result in 34,000 pensioners receiving higher pensions.
Russia: Social Pensions Will
Go Beyond the Minimum Living Wage (April 1, 2006)
(Article in Russian)
According to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation,
social pensions will reach and even go beyond the level of the minimum
living wage by 2008. The amount of the social pension payment in Russia
has increased by 8.3% starting April 1, 2006. Gennady Batanov, head of
the Pension Fund, predicts the social pension benefits will increase to
the level of the minimum living wage in the near future.
Kazakhstan:
Citizens
to
Be Excluded from the Social Protection Program (March 31,
2006)
(Article in Russian)
The Minister of Labor and Social Justice Guhlzhana Karagusova announced
that the government of Kazakhstan could exclude certain beneficiaries
from the social pension program in ten years. However, she stressed
that these changes will only affect persons who acquired citizenship
fewer than 10-15 years before reaching the pension age. Kazakhstan is
one of the few countries of the former Soviet block providing social
pension benefits to all older persons who are not eligible for the
labor pension. The Minister says that such changes are necessary to
prevent the influx of migrants to Kazakhstan from neighboring countries
in the future.
Back to Top
Middle-East and North Africa
United Arab Emirates
UAE:
Social
Care
and State Responsibility (February 1, 2006)
Social Security is an international principle guaranteed by
international covenants. The State honors this principle for the sake
of protecting vulnerable groups in society. That is why the UAE has
decided to increase the level of monthly social assistance benefiting
old people. This only confirms that the UAE leadership has been
assessing the needs of those entitled to such extra benefits,
especially the old, so that they can meet their living costs.
Back to Top
World
Social Protection: From
Handouts to Social Justice (May 17, 2011)
Social protection, including cash
transfers and other programs, has proven to be a phenomenal success
story in some poor and vulnerable countries. However, what is being
overlooked is that social protection is not only about installing
safety nets and reducing poverty, but impacts the social contract
between governments and citizens of the recipient countries.
World: Age Demands Action:
Impact 2010 (March 31, 2011)
As part of the HelpAge Network’s “Age
Demands Action” campaign, elderly activists in more than 50
countries called on their national governments to take action on issues
affecting older people. Many succeeded in having their governments
increase allowances for older citizens and improve Social Welfare.This
article includes success stories from some less developed countries
such as Kenya, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Report: World: UN Independent Expert: ‘Social
Pensions are Critical to Human Rights’ (Spring 2010)
According to the UN’s Independent expert on human rights and extreme
poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda, social pensions are critical to reducing
poverty and achieving older people's right to social security. She
recommends that States recognize social pensions that reach beyond a
single recipient and impact the family, including helping children and
grandchildren. Universal pension schemes comply with principles of
universality and non-discrimination.
World: UN Praises Latin-American Social Pension
Policies to Confront Global Crisis (February 24, 2010)
Social protection policies are an integral part of the movement towards
achieving the Millenium Development Goals. The UNDP has noted that the
conditional cash transfer programmes, like the Oportunidades of Mexico
and the Bolsa Familia of Brazil that include older people in their
target population, have made inroads in the fight against poverty and
are proving to be an integral part of successful social programming.
World: Social Pensions to Ease Economic
Crisis (August 4, 2009)
A number of countries are expanding their social pension
plans to alleviate the effects of the economic crisis. Russia,
Thailand, Philippines, Lesotho, Kenya, Ecuador and Paraguay are all
taking part in the effort to extend pension coverage for old people.
The old age social pension is not social assistance, but rather a basic
human right that everyone deserves. In the long run pensions can result
in economic benefits; the more money in people's pockets to spend on
basic necessities, the more demand expands. As a result, this will
create more jobs in the formal sector.
World: Pensions Key to Meeting MDG Targets (July 9, 2007)
According to the OECD, old-age poverty would be 50% higher in developed
countries without the existing appropriate pension system and other
cash transfers. That is why social pensions are obvious instruments to
fight poverty in developing countries. Such social pensions would not
be a burden on poor countries’ economy: the UN estimates that “a basic
universal pension to all over 60s equivalent to US$1 a day would cost
less than 1% of GDP in 66 out of 100 developing countries.” Southern
Africa is leading the process to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals (reducing poverty, gender inequalities, hunger, etc.) since
Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius and South Africa all have a social pension
scheme.
Report:
UK:
Pensions
Not Poverty (May 2007)
Based in the United Kingdom, Help the Aged and HelpAge International
launched the “pensions not poverty” campaign to raise awareness of
older persons’ right to a social pension. The campaign calls on UK
citizens to ask their Government to “put social pensions at the top of
the international agenda and to ensure social pensions are a vital part
of all relevant aid, development and debt-relief initiatives.”
Back to Top
HIV/AIDS
Social
pensions also impact whole families.
Social pensions keep
the vital intergenerational link alive. With such pensions, older
people can help provide for themselves and their families. Since the
current “breadwinner” generation can be disabled or killed by HIV/AIDS,
many children lose their parents, becoming orphaned. In such cases,
older people must care for them. Often lacking food or other resources,
older persons look to social pensions to buy food and – sometimes –
education for these children. Social pensions also help those who
suffer from HIV/AIDS who must eat some food in order to make their free
retroviral drugs work.
 Social
Pensions: South Africa: South African Families Coping with AIDS (August
20, 2007)
A US study from Professor Enid Schatz, University of Missouri-Columbia,
showed the positive impact of “older generation's government pensions.”
Many families in South Africa have to confront the death of their
primary income earners because of HIV/AIDS, since the pandemic affects
first the middle generation. Those social pensions, widely implemented
in South Africa, help to maintain an entire household. The study gives
the example of an elderly woman and her husband who support 12 people.
Social Pensions: World: UN Offers
Support but No Cash for Older Carers (8 June, 2006)
Member states adopted a new UN Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS on June 2, 2006
. The Declaration commits governments to provide support and
rehabilitation to older people, particularly in their role as
caregivers. Although HelpAge International appreciates this commitment,
the organization is concerned that the Declaration contains weak human
rights provisions as “it does not acknowledge older people as a
vulnerable group with specific needs, and fails to set specific targets
towards achieving universal access to treatment by 2010,“ says Jo
Maher, HelpAge International’s HIV/AIDS Coordinator.
Help Age International: Making Cash Count: Lessons
from Cash Transfer Schemes in East and Southern Africa for Supporting
the Most Vulnerable Children and Households (November 2005)
This study from Help Age International and Save the
Children elucidates the problem of poverty among children in southern
and eastern Africa and how it affects the elderly in their society.
Even though Botswana
and Lesotho
are rich and poor countries (respectively),
they both have non-contributory social pensions. Many of the adult
children of the elderly have passed away because of AIDS resulting in
the elderly caring for the grandchildren. Grandparents are the most
common carers of orphan children even though there is extended family.
Because grandparents do not have the funding to support their
grandchildren, many are living in poverty. That's why this study calls
for “unconditional cash transfers” to promote a ‘progressive’ social
protection agenda. Social protection is important because it includes
such a broad range of programs like pensions, family allowances or
child benefits, school feeding programs, and health insurance. The
childhood poverty problem for the present generation will also lead to
poverty for the next generation unless some changes are made to
interrupt the poverty cycle.
Events
United Nations International Forum on the
Eradication of Poverty
(November 15-16, 2006)
To
mark the end of the first UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the
UN organized an international forum from November 15 to 16. The forum
addressed key developments in policy and practice over the past ten
years and identified future challenges.
See
the report by GAA Program Coordinator Alischa Kugel:
United
Nations:
Report
on
the
UN
International
Forum
on
the
Eradication of Poverty (November 2006)
|
Access the Presentations
|
|
Intergenerational
Poverty
|
Ppt
|
|
|
- Jo
Maher, HIV & AIDS coordinator, Help Age
International
|
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Tackling
Poverty with Social Transfers to Vulnerable Groups: Evidence from Africa
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Ppt
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- Professor
Michael
Samson,
Director
of
Research
at
the
EPRI
|
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Poverty,
Social Security and Human Rights. Lessons from OECD Experience
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Ppt
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- Professor
Peter
Townsend,
London
School
of Economics
|
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Mainstreaming
Decent
Work
into Poverty Reduction Strategies
|
Ppt
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- Professor
Martha
Chen,
Harvard University, WIEGO
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Social Protection Initiatives for Children,
Women and Families: An Analysis of Recent Experiences (October 30-31,
2006)
The
panelists described how older persons (and others) benefit from income
support. UNICEF and the New School sponsored
the
social
protection event last week.
Intern Jenn Nazareno attended for GAA and selected these articles that
refer directly or indirectly to older persons.
|
Access the Presentations
|
|
Who are the Vulnerable
Children? Exploring the Implications of Different Criteria for
Determining Eligibility for Program Assistance
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Pdf
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- Katie Schenk, Lewis Ndhlovu, Stephen Tembo, Andson Nsune,
Chozi Nkhata, RAPIDS
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Social Protection Schemes in West and Central Africa: A
Proposal for Renewal
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Pdf
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- Sidya Ould El Hadj and Medou Diakhate
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The Malawi
Social Cash Transfer Pilot Scheme, Preliminary Lessons Learned
|
Pdf
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- Bernd
Schubert, Mayke Huijbregts
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Social Protection for Children and their Families: A Global
Overview
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Pdf
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- Sheila B. Kamerman and Shirley Gatenio Gabel
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Targeting Efficiency and Poverty Reduction
Effects of Means-Tested and Universal Child Benefits in Russia
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Pdf
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- Franziska
Gassmann
and
Geranda Notten
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Links
Grow Up Free
From Poverty Coalition
Over 24 NGOs and
faith groups come together to build in the Grow Up Coalition. Social
protection,
including
old age cash transfers lie at the heart of the
Coalition's advocacy campaign to eradicate poverty. This page provides
resources on the topic.
HelpAge
International: Social Protection
This rich
resource provides background information as well as case and country
studies on the effectiveness of social pensions.
International Labour Organization: Social Security
Department: Pensions
This page
provides an overview on the effectiveness and affordability of social
pensions.
International
Labour
Organization:
Social Security Policy and Development Branch
The ILO's Social Security and Development Brach provides
information on the Campaign for Social Security and Coverage for All as
well as its Step Programme, which provides strategies and tools against
social exclusion and poverty to policy makers.
International
Poverty
Center:
Cash Transfers and Social Protection
The International Poverty Center is a joint
project by the UN Development Program and the Brazil government to
foster South-South cooperation on poverty research. This link
highlights the International Poverty Center's " publications on cash
transfers and includes other important research papers, evaluation
reports and interviews on the topic from multilateral organizations,
NGOs, governments and practitioners."
UNICEF: Policy Analyses
This web-page
provides links to UNICEF's work on social protection. It includes
articles and reports on the importance of social protection in fighting
intergenerational poverty.
World Bank: Social Protection Sector
This web-page
provides information on the Bank's social protection programs. Topics
for further research include pensions, transfers and social funds.
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