Social Security
Pension Rights
Under the National Pensions Act, 1992, an aged person, any person who has reached the age of 60, is entitled to basic state pension. A person is entitled to a national pension if they satisfy the Permanent Secretary of Health and Safety that he/she is an aged, blind or disabled person, are a resident of Namibia, and are a citizen or have been a permanent resident of Namibia for a continuous period of time.
Under the Social Security Act, 1994, any employee who is a member of the National Pension Fund is entitled to pension benefits. In order to qualify for pension benefits from the National Pension Fund, the employee must be registered with the Social Security Commission. He must not be a member of any other pension fund or scheme approved by the Minister of Labour and Human Resources Development. Where a contribution has been paid in full, the employee has to be a member of the Fund for at least six months before a claim can be made.
If the employee who is a member of the Death Benefit Fund retires, the full value of his/her death benefits, which would have been payable upon his/her death, will be paid to him/her, and no further amount will be payable. In order to qualify for Death Benefits, the employee must be registered with the Social Security Commission. He must not be a member of any other pension fund or scheme approved by the Minister of Labour and Human Resources Development. Where a contribution has been paid in full, the employee has to be a member of the Fund for at least six months before a claim is made.
In 2024, the 1995 Social Security regulations under the Social Security Act 34/1994 were amended to change the wage limits for contribution purposes. Before the 2024 reform, an employee was deemed to earn not less than N$300 and not more than N$9,000 per month. These lower and upper limits have now been changed to N$500 and N$11,000, respectively. This reform effectively raises both the minimum and maximum wage ceilings for maternity leave, sick leave and death benefit contributions from 1 March 2025, while leaving the contribution rate unchanged (1.8% of basic wage, split equally between employer and employee).
Source: §2 & 3 of the National Pensions Act, 1992 and §20, 21, 31 & 34 of the Social Security Act, 1994; Government Gazette 8461, GN 275/2024 (“Amendment of regulations under Social Security Act: Social Security Act, 1994”)
Dependents' / Survivors' Benefit
Under the Social Security Act, 1994, upon the death of an employee who was a member of the Death Benefits Fund, death benefits will be payable to a dependent. If the dependent is still a minor, it will be paid to his/her guardian or to any other person who is considered by the Social Security Commission to be a fit and proper person to administer such benefits.
In order to qualify for death benefits, the deceased employee must have registered with the Social Security Commission. He must not have been a member of any other pension fund or scheme approved by the Minister of labour and Human Resources Development. Where a contribution has been paid in full, the employee had to have been a member of the Fund for at least six months before a claim can be made.
Source: §20, 21 & 31 of the Social Security Act, 1994
Invalidity Benefit
Under the National Pensions Act, 1992, any person is entitled to a national pension if they satisfy the Permanent Secretary of Health and Safety that he/she is a blind or disabled person, are a resident of Namibia, and are a citizen or have been a permanent resident of Namibia for a continuous period of time.
Under the Social Security Act, 1994, if the employee who is a member becomes disabled, the full value of death benefits which would have been payable upon his/her death will be paid to him/her, and no further amount will be payable. In order to qualify for death benefits, the employee must be registered with the Social Security Commission. He must not be a member of any other pension fund or scheme approved by the Minister of labour and Human Resources Development. Where a contribution has been paid in full, the employee has been a member of the Fund for at least six months before the claim arose.
Under the Employees’ Compensation Act 30/1941, the minimum monthly pension of N$500 for permanent disablement is set, effective 1 March 2025.
Source: §3 of the National Pensions Act, 1994 and §20, 21 & 31 of the Social Security Act, 1994
Regulations on Social Security
- Social Security Act, 1994
- National Pensions Act, 1992
