Basic social security

Can low-income countries afford basic social security?

This paper compliments the existing Issues in Social Protection Discussion papers series and the Extension of Social Security series published by the Social Security Department by making available a comprehensive set of information tools.

The basic social security floor consists essentially of a guaranteed set of basic social transfers in cash or in kind to all. It is formulated as a set of guarantees rather than set of defined benefits. This leaves the option open to individual countries to realize these guarantees by way of means-tested, conditional or universal transfers. The essential fact is that everybody in a given society can access these essential transfers.