First law: 1956.

Current laws: 1974 (Decree-law of 22 August, organizing social security) and 2003 (Law No. 06/2003 of 22 March).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Salaried workers, including temporary, and casual workers; professional and in-service trainees; apprentices; civil servants; political appointees; and government officials.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons and for persons who were previously insured for at least six consecutive months and had mandatory coverage in the last 12 months.

Insured person: 3% of covered earnings; 6% for voluntary contributors.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage, which varies by sector.

The monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are subject to a maximum.

Self-employed person: 6% of declared income.

The maximum monthly income used to calculate contributions is 104,000 francs.

Employer: 3% of covered payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage, which varies by sector.

The monthly earnings used to calculate contributions are subject to a maximum.

Government: None.

Old-age pension: Age 55 (younger if prematurely aged) with at least 180 months of coverage. Employment must cease.

The pension is payable abroad only under reciprocal agreement.

Old-age settlement: Age 55 (younger if prematurely aged) and ineligible for the old-age pension.

Disability pension: The insured must be assessed with at least a 50% loss of earning capacity and have at least five years of coverage, including six months of contributions in the 12 months before the disability began. There is no minimum qualifying period for a nonoccupational accident.

Constant-attendance supplement: Paid if the insured requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions.

A doctor approved or appointed by the Social Security Fund periodically assesses the disability.

Survivor pension: Paid to eligible survivors if the deceased was a pensioner, met the qualifying conditions for an old-age or disability pension, or had 180 months of coverage at the time of death.

Survivor settlement: Paid to eligible survivors if the deceased did not meet the qualifying conditions for a pension.

Eligible survivors are the widow(er), children younger than age 18 (age 25 if a student, no limit if disabled), and parents (including adoptive parents) if there is no surviving spouse or orphan.

Old-age pension: The pension is 30% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the last three or five years (whichever is greater) plus 2% of average monthly earnings for each 12-month period of coverage exceeding 180 months.

The minimum monthly pension is 50% of the legal monthly minimum wage, which varies by sector.

Old-age settlement: A lump sum of the insured's average monthly earnings in the last three or five years (whichever is greater) multiplied by the number of years of contributions is paid.

If the insured is entitled to two or more pensions (including work injury benefits), the highest pension plus 50% of the other benefits is paid.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically by presidential decree. (The last adjustment was in April 2002.)

Disability pension: The pension is 30% of the insured's monthly average earnings in the last three or five years (whichever is greater) plus 2% of average monthly earnings for each 12-month period of coverage exceeding 180 months. For each year that a claim is made before age 55, the insured is credited with a six-month coverage period.

The minimum monthly pension is 50% of the legal monthly minimum wage, which varies by sector.

Constant-attendance supplement: 40% of the insured's pension is paid.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically by presidential decree. (The last adjustment was in April 2002.)

Survivor pension: 50% of the pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive is paid to the widow(er).

Orphan's pension: 25% of the pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive is paid for each eligible orphan; 40% for a full orphan.

The combined receipt of two or more pensions is allowed for full orphans.

Dependent parent's pension (if there are no other eligible survivors): 25% of the pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive is paid to each eligible parent.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive.

Survivor settlement: A lump sum of one month of pension for each six-month period of coverage is paid to the widow(er).

Orphan's settlement: A lump sum of 50% of the survivor settlement is paid to each eligible orphan. The total settlement paid to orphans must not exceed twice the survivor settlement.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically by presidential decree. (The last adjustment was in April 2002.)

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (http://www.minecofin.gov.rw) provides general supervision.

Social Security Fund (http://www.csr.gov.rw), managed by a tripartite council and a director general, administers the program.

Social Security Fund of Rwanda
BP 250,
RW-Kigali,
Rwanda

Tel.: + (250) 59 84 00
Fax: + (250) 58 44 45

Rwanda Revenue Authority (http://www.rra.gov.rw) collects contributions.

Tel.: + (250) 25 25 95 500