2. GENERAL SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS DEFINITIONS

To understand the social security system one needs to be conversant with the terms that have been adopted world over and in particular in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.  These are social allowances, social assistance, social insurance, social protection and social security itself.  However, it should be noted conceptually that social security includes all the other four.

(i) Social Protection
This refers to measures whether public, private or mixed designed to protect individuals against  life cycle crises that curtail   their capability to meet  their needs. The main objective is to enhance human welfare.  In view of this we consider it to go beyond social security as it also covers social services and developmental social welfare, which is dealt with under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS).

(ii) Social Allowances

These are universal payments usually made to the most vulnerable that are exposed to exceptional need e.g. children - older persons, persons with disabilities etc.  These are usually not means-tested and are a mere form of social compensation.  Naturally, this funded from government revenue.

 

(iii) Social Assistance
This is a provision of minimum income support to persons who lack means to support themselves and their dependants.  Assistance is usually in form of cash or in kind and given to persons not covered by any other form of social security.  However it is means – tested.

 

(iv) Social Insurance
This type of social security is designed to protect income earners against reduced or complete loss of income as a result of exposure to risks they impair someone’s capacity to earn income.  It is nevertheless contributory by concerned parties i.e. employer / employee, self-employed etc depending on type of scheme/plan and it is aimed at achieving reasonable level of income maintenance.

(v) Social Security
This refers to public, private or mixed measures designed to protect individuals or families against income insecurity caused by contingencies such as unemployment, employment injury, maternity, sickness, invalidity, old age and death.

The main objectives of social security are therefore,

(a)                To maintain income

(b)                To provide health care
(c)                To provide benefits to families

Clearly, as indicated above, this is all encompassing and includes all sectors of lives in the nation.

Note that the contingencies in Zambia, depending on whether you are employed or not, are dealt with as follows:

Nature of contingency	Employed	Unemployed
Retirement/Unemployment	Pension	Social Protection/Assistance Under MCDSS
Employment - Injury	Workmen’s Compensation	None
Maternity	Monthly Pay	None
Schemes	Pension/Hospice	Hospice
Invalidity	Pension	Social Protection/Assistance
Old age	Pension	Social Protection/Assistance
Death	Pension	None

MCDSS = Ministry of Community Development and Social Services