São Tomé and Principe

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1979.

Current law: 1990 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons, including civil servants and military personnel.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons.

Exclusions: Household workers.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 4% of gross earnings.

The insured's contributions finance old-age, disability, and survivor benefits; sickness and maternity benefits; and work injury benefits.

Self-employed person: Voluntary contributions of 7.5% of declared earnings, according to six earnings classes.

The self-employed person's contributions finance old-age, disability, and survivor benefits only.

Employer: 6% of gross payroll.

The employer's contributions finance old-age, disability, and survivor benefits; sickness and maternity benefits; and work injury benefits.

Government: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: Age 62 (men) or age 57 (women) with at least 120 months of contributions.

Retirement is not necessary.

Deferred pension: A deferred pension is possible.

Disability pension: The insured must be assessed with a permanent incapacity for all work or with an incapacity for usual work of at least a 66.7% and have at least 60 months of contributions.

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

Survivor pension: The deceased was a pensioner or was eligible for a pension at the time of death with at least 60 months of contributions.

Eligible survivors are the widow(er), children younger than age 18 (no limit with a disability), and dependent parents older than age 62 (men) or age 57 (women) or dependent and disabled.

The widow(er)'s pension ceases on remarriage.

Eligible survivors are the widow(er), children younger than age 18 (no limit if disabled), and dependent parents older than age 62 (men) or age 57 (women) or dependent and disabled.

Funeral grant: The deceased had at least 12 months of contributions or was a pensioner.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: The monthly pension is equal to 30% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the best 5 of the last 10 calendar years plus 1% of average monthly earnings for each year of coverage exceeding 10 years up to 25 years plus 2% for each year of coverage exceeding 25 years.

Deferred pension: The pension is increased by 3% for each year of coverage after the normal retirement age.

The minimum pension is equal to 30% of the national minimum wage.

The pension is paid monthly.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to wage increases.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: The monthly pension is equal to 30% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the best 5 of the last 10 calendar years plus 1% of average monthly earnings for each year of coverage exceeding 10 years up to 25 years plus 2% for each year of coverage exceeding 25 years.

At the normal retirement age, the disability pension is replaced by the old-age pension.

The minimum pension is equal to 30% of the legal minimum wage.

Constant-attendance allowance: 20% of the pension is paid.

The pension is paid monthly.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to wage increases.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 60% of the monthly pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive is paid for one dependent survivor; 80% for two; 100% for three or more.

Funeral grant: A lump sum is paid equal to the cost of the funeral.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Health, Labor, and Social Security provides general supervision.

National Institute of Social Security administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1979.

Current law: 1990 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system. Cash benefits only.

Coverage

Employed persons, including civil servants and military personnel.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons and household workers.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: The insured must have at least 3 months of coverage with at least 60 days of paid contributions immediately before the incapacity began; a total of at least 3 months of paid contributions if the insured had not contributed in the 12 months before the incapacity began.

Cash maternity benefits: The insured must have at least 360 days of coverage and at least 10 months of paid contributions before the expected date of childbirth.

Special leave: Paid to a parent to provide care for a sick child younger than age 3 or a child of any age with a disability. The insured must have at least 3 months of coverage with at least 60 days of contributions immediately before the leave began.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: The benefit is equal to 60% of the insured's average daily earnings in the last 2 months and is paid after a 3-day waiting period for up to 360 days.

Maternity benefit: The benefit is equal to 100% of the insured's average daily earnings in the last 12 months and is paid for 30 days before and 30 days (45 days for multiple births) after the expected date of childbirth.

Special leave: The benefit is equal to 60% of the insured's average daily earnings in the last 2 months. The benefit is paid without a waiting period for up to 360 days; the benefit may be extended for an additional 180 days for the same child 12 months after the end of the first benefit period.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits: No statutory benefits are provided.

Medical care is provided under the public health program.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits for dependents: No statutory benefits are provided.

Medical care is provided under the public health program.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Health, Labor, and Social Security provides general supervision.

National Institute of Social Security administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1979.

Current law: 1990 (social security).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons, including civil servants and military personnel.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period. Accidents that occur while commuting to and from work are covered.

Temporary Disability Benefits

The benefit is equal to 100% of the insured's average daily earnings in the 2 months before the disability began for the first 30 days and 90% of average daily earnings from the 31st day up to the 360th day; thereafter, 75% of average earnings.

The benefit is paid for up to 24 months.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: The pension is equal to 50% of the insured's average monthly earnings in the best 5 of the last 10 calendar years plus 2% for each year of coverage exceeding 25 years.

The minimum pension is equal to 30% of the legal minimum wage.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits: No statutory benefits are provided.

Medical care is provided under the public health program.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 60% of the monthly permanent disability pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive is paid for one survivor; 80% for two; 100% for three or more.

The widow(er)'s pension ceases on remarriage.

Eligible survivors are the widow(er), children younger than age 18 (no limit with a disability), and dependent parents older than age 62 (men) or age 57 (women) or dependent and disabled.

Funeral grant: A lump sum is paid equal to the cost of the funeral.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Health, Labor, and Social Security provides general supervision.

National Institute of Social Security administers the program.