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<h1>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2018</h1>
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<h1>Samoa</h1>
<div class="exchangeRate">Exchange rate: <abbr class="spell">US</abbr>$1.00&nbsp;= 2.50&nbsp;tala.</div>
<h2>Old Age, Disability, and Survivors</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current law:</span> 1972 (national provident fund).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Universal and provident fund system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Universal:</span> Citizens and lifelong residents of Samoa.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Provident fund:</span> Employed persons, including household workers.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for self-employed and unemployed persons.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Universal:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Provident fund:</span> 7% of gross monthly earnings. Additional voluntary contributions of up to 2,000 a month are possible.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Universal:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Provident fund:</span> Pays 100 to 2,000&nbsp;tala a month.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Universal:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Provident fund:</span> 7% of gross monthly payroll.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Universal:</span> The total cost.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Provident fund:</span> None; contributes as an employer.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (Senior Citizens Benefit Scheme, universal):</span> Age&nbsp;65 with at least 90&nbsp;days of continuous residence immediately before the date of application.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (provident fund):</span> Age&nbsp;55; age&nbsp;50 if unemployed for at least five years; at any age if emigrating permanently, medically incapacitated, or entering theological seminary or the clergy.</p>
<p>If covered employment continues after age&nbsp;55, the fund member must continue to make contributions to the fund. If employment continues or new employment begins after funds are withdrawn at age&nbsp;55, the fund member must contribute for at least 12&nbsp;months before withdrawing funds again.</p>
<p>Partial withdrawal: Must be younger than age&nbsp;55.</p>
<p>Loan program: Loans are provided from the fund member's account to help finance the cost of housing, land, vehicles, or other <span class="nobr">short-term</span> expenditures. Must have a minimum balance of 500&nbsp;tala.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Disability pension (provident fund):</span> Must be assessed with a total incapacity for work in covered employment.</p>
<p>A general medical practitioner assesses the loss of work capacity.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension (provident fund):</span> Paid when a fund member dies.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include persons named by the deceased, or if there are no named survivors, the deceased's spouse, children, or other dependents.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Death benefit (provident fund):</span> Paid when a fund member with at least one month of contributions dies. If the deceased previously withdrew funds, he or she must have contributed for at least 24&nbsp;months since the last withdrawal.</p>
<h3>Old-Age Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (Senior Citizens Benefit Scheme, universal):</span> 135&nbsp;tala a month is paid.</p>
<p>Additional benefits: <span class="nobr">Old-age</span> pensioners also receive free health care in public hospitals and free inter-island travel on public seagoing vessels.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Old-age pension (provident fund):</span> The fund member has three options: purchase an annuity with the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals; purchase an annuity with 75% of the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals, with the remaining 25% paid as a lump sum; or receive a lump sum of the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals taken at age&nbsp;55.</p>
<p>Annuities are paid every two weeks.</p>
<p>The minimum interest rate is 4% a year.</p>
<p>Partial withdrawal: Up to 20% of the total employee and employer contributions may be withdrawn for necessary medical expenses. Partial withdrawal of an unspecified amount to meet relocation costs is also possible for temporary employment abroad that is expected to last at least three years.</p>
<p>Loan program: Up to 60% of the total employee and employer contributions may be withdrawn and repaid at an annual interest rate that varies depending on the type of loan.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted every three years based on an actuarial review.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Disability pension (provident fund):</span> The fund member has three options: purchase an annuity with the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals; purchase an annuity with 75% of the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals, with the remaining 25% paid as a lump sum; or receive a lump sum of the balance of the total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals taken at age&nbsp;55.</p>
<p>The minimum interest rate is 4% a year.</p>
<p>Annuities are paid every two weeks.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted every three years based on an actuarial review.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension (provident fund):</span> The total employee and employer contributions plus accrued interest minus partial withdrawals is split among named survivors based on proportions stated by the deceased. If the deceased was receiving an annuity, 50% of the deceased's annuity is paid for up to 10&nbsp;years.</p>
<p>The minimum interest rate is 4% a year.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted every three years based on an actuarial review.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Death benefit (provident fund):</span> A lump sum of 5,000&nbsp;tala is paid.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted based on the financial health of the fund.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Senior Citizens Benefit Scheme Department of the Samoa National Provident Fund administers the universal program.</p>
<p>Samoa National Provident Fund managed by a tripartite board, administers the provident fund program and collects contributions.</p>
<h2>Sickness and Maternity</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current law:</span> 2013 (labor code).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Employer-liability (cash benefits only) system.</p>
<p>Note: Additional cash benefits for temporary and permanent disability are provided for nonwork-related injuries under Work Injury. Some medical services are provided free of charge to the population through government health centers. Other hospital and medical services are provided under the senior citizen benefit scheme and the work injury program.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed persons.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Self-employed persons, police personnel, and certain agricultural workers.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> The total cost (provides benefits directly to employees).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None; contributes as an employer.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash sickness benefit:</span> For <span class="nobr">full-time</span> employees, must have at least 12&nbsp;months of continuous employment with the same employer; for <span class="nobr">part-time</span> employees, the qualifying conditions are applied on a <span class="nobr">pro-rata</span> basis. A medical certificate is required for an illness that lasts for at least three days.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Cash maternity benefit:</span> For <span class="nobr">full-time</span> employees, must have at least 12&nbsp;months of continuous employment with the same employer; for <span class="nobr">part-time</span> employees, the qualifying conditions are applied on a <span class="nobr">pro-rata</span> basis. The employee must notify the employer in writing of the expected dates of departure and return from maternity leave.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Cash paternity benefit:</span> For <span class="nobr">full-time</span> employees, must have at least 12&nbsp;months of continuous employment with the same employer; for <span class="nobr">part-time</span> employees, the qualifying conditions are applied on a <span class="nobr">pro-rata</span> basis. The employee must notify the employer in writing of the expected date of childbirth and present a written request from the employee's wife or partner.</p>
<h3>Sickness and Maternity Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Sickness benefit:</span> 100% of the employee's normal earnings is paid.</p>
<p>Workers are entitled to at least 10&nbsp;days of sick leave each year.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity benefit:</span> The employee has two payment options: receive 100% of normal earnings for four weeks plus two weeks of unpaid leave; or 66.67% of normal earnings for six weeks.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Paternity benefit:</span> 100% of the employee's normal earnings is paid for five days.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Some medical services are provided free of charge through government health centers.</p>
<p>Other hospital and medical services are provided under the senior citizen benefit scheme and the work injury program.</p>
<h3>Dependents' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Medical benefits for dependents are the same as those for the insured.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (https://www.mcil.gov.ws/) administers the program.</p>
<h2>Work Injury</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1960.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current laws:</span> 1978 and 1989 (accident compensation).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed persons.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Self-employed persons.</p>
<p>The program also covers all residents of Samoa for injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle and boat accidents.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Work injuries and occupational disease:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Motor vehicle and boat accidents:</span> 1% of earnings.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Work injuries and occupational disease:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Motor vehicle and boat accidents:</span> No information available.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Work injuries and occupational disease:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Motor vehicle and boat accidents:</span> 1% of payroll.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government</span></p>
<p><span class="h5">Work injuries and occupational disease:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Motor vehicle and boat accidents:</span> An earmarked tax of 0.05&nbsp;tala per gallon of motor fuel finances benefits for victims of motor vehicle and boat accidents.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p>Must be assessed with a work injury or occupational disease, or an injury resulting from a motor vehicle or boat accident.</p>
<h3>Temporary Disability Benefits</h3>
<p>Up to 70% of the insured's earnings is paid after a <span class="nobr">five-day</span> waiting period for up to five years (may be extended).</p>
<p>The maximum weekly temporary disability benefit is 1,000&nbsp;tala.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p>If the assessed degree of disability is at least 80%, the weekly benefit is 70% of the insured's last earnings multiplied by the assessed degree of disability. The benefit is paid until rehabilitation or death.</p>
<p>The maximum weekly permanent disability benefit is 1,000&nbsp;tala.</p>
<p>A mobility allowance and a living allowance, both 60% of the minimum wage, are paid.</p>
<p>Partial disability: If the assessed degree of disability is less than 80% and the insured returns to work before the period of entitlement to temporary disability benefits ceases, a lump sum is paid based on the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p>The maximum partial disability benefit is 8,000&nbsp;tala.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Benefits include reasonable medical expenses; up to 150,000&nbsp;tala is paid for artificial limbs or aids and for treatment abroad.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor grant:</span> A lump sum of 16,000 to 20,000&nbsp;tala, plus up to 1,000&nbsp;tala a week for up to five years, is paid to eligible dependents.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> A lump sum of 4,000&nbsp;tala is paid for a death.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (https://www.mcil.gov.ws/) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>Accident Compensation Corporation (<a href="https://acc.gov.ws/">https://www.acc.gov.ws/</a>) administers the program.</p>
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