Kuwait

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First and current laws: 1976 (civilians), implemented in 1977; 1980 (military), implemented in 1981; and 1992 (supplementary), implemented in 1995.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Basic system: Civil servants, oil and private-sector workers, self-employed persons, and military personnel.

Supplementary system: Employees with covered monthly earnings greater than 1,250 dinars and those with sources of earnings not covered by the basic system.

Voluntary coverage for self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Basic system

Insured person: 5% of gross earnings.

The minimum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 230 dinars.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 1,250 dinars.

Self-employed person: 5% to 15% of monthly income, chosen by the self-employed person from 22 income bands.

The minimum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 200 dinars.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 1,250 dinars.

Employer: 10% of payroll.

The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 230 dinars.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 1,250 dinars.

Government: A subsidy equal to 10% of the total payroll for employees, 32.5% of the total payroll for military personnel, and 25% of total declared income for self-employed persons.

Benefit adjustments under the basic and supplementary systems are financed by a combined additional monthly contribution by the insured person (1%), self-employed person (1%), employer (1%), and government (2%) on total earnings, up to 2,500 dinars.

Supplementary system

Insured person: 5% of earnings exceeding 1,250 dinars.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are the first 1,000 dinars of earnings exceeding 1,250 dinars.

Self-employed person: 5% of declared income exceeding 1,250 dinars, on a voluntary basis.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are the first 1,000 dinars of earnings exceeding 1,250 dinars.

Employer: 10% of the payroll exceeding the maximum payroll covered by the basic system.

The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are the first 1,000 dinars of earnings exceeding 1,250 dinars.

Government: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension

Basic system: Age 50 with 15 years of contributions for men and women. (The pensionable age will increase gradually to age 55 by 2020.)

Age 47 with 20 years of contributions for men and unmarried women with no children. (The pensionable age will increase gradually to age 55 by 2020.)

Age 40 with 15 years of contributions for married women and women with children. (The pensionable age will increase gradually to age 50 by 2020.)

At any age with 20 years of contributions for those in arduous work.

Retirement is necessary, except if moving from the public sector to the private sector, with certain requirements as to the length of service in the public sector.

Age 65 with 15 years of contributions or age 55 with 20 years of contributions for self-employed persons.

Age 50 with 15 years of contributions or age 45 with 20 years of contributions for military personnel, subject to other conditions.

Benefits are not payable abroad.

Supplementary system: Paid at the same time as the old-age pension under the basic system.

Deferred supplementary pension: The supplementary pension may be deferred.

Benefits are not payable abroad.

Disability pension

Basic system: An assessed degree of incapacity for work of more than 50%.

The degree of disability is assessed by the general medical council.

Benefits are not payable abroad.

Supplementary system: An assessed degree of incapacity for work of more than 50%.

The degree of disability is assessed by the general medical council.

Benefits are not payable abroad.

Survivor pension: The insured met the coverage requirements for a pension or was a pensioner at the time of death.

Death grant: Paid on the death of an insured person or a pensioner.

Benefits are not payable abroad.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension

Basic system: The benefit is equal to 65% (75% for military personnel) of the insured's last monthly earnings (average monthly insured income in the last 3 years for self-employed persons), plus 2% for each year of contributions exceeding 15 years, up to a maximum of 95% of earnings (100% for military personnel).

At the pensioner's request, part of the pension may be paid as a lump sum before age 65.

An additional lump sum is paid to persons with more than the required number of years of insurance coverage.

Benefit adjustment: Flat-rate adjustments are made to benefits every 3 years.

Supplementary system: The benefit is equal to the accrued sum in the insured's account divided by a fixed amount varying from 202 dinars to 120 dinars, according to the insured's age.

The accrued sum is calculated on the basis of 15% to 25% (according to the insured's age) of the insured's average monthly earnings during the total contribution period increased by 2.5% for each year of contributions.

Deferred pension (supplementary system): The benefit is increased by 5% for each year of deferral.

At the pensioner's request, part of the pension may be paid as a lump sum before age 65.

Benefit adjustment: Flat-rate adjustments are made to benefits every 3 years.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension

Basic system: The benefit is equal to 65% (75% for military personnel) of the insured's last monthly earnings, plus 2% for each year of contributions exceeding 15 years, up to a maximum of 95% of earnings (100% for military personnel). The insured is credited with contribution years from the date of the onset of disability up to age 60.

Benefit adjustment: Flat-rate adjustments are made to benefits every 3 years.

Supplementary system: The benefit is equal to the accrued sum in the insured's account divided by a fixed amount varying from 202 dinars to 120 dinars, according to the insured's age.

The accrued sum is calculated on the basis of 15% to 25% (according to the insured's age) of the insured's average monthly earnings during the total contribution period increased by 2.5% for each year of contributions.

The insured is credited with contribution years from the date of the onset of disability up to age 60.

Benefit adjustment: Flat-rate adjustments are made to benefits every 3 years.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: The maximum pension is equal to 100% of the deceased's pension, according to the number and category of eligible survivors. The survivor pension for different eligible categories of survivor is set according to the schedule in law.

Eligible survivors include widows, dependent widowers (if disabled and incapable of work), children, parents, brothers, sisters, and a son's children. Sons must be younger than age 26 (age 28 if a full-time student). There is no limit for unmarried female survivors or disabled male survivors.

The pension is suspended on marriage but is reinstated if subsequently divorced or widowed.

The pension is suspended or ceases if the survivor (except the widow) starts working.

If a survivor's eligibility for the pension ceases, the pension is split among all remaining eligible survivors.

The minimum monthly pension is 180 dinars for a widow or a dependent widower, 145 dinars for each parent, or 94 dinars for each of the other survivors.

Marriage grant: The deceased's daughter or sister or the daughter of the deceased's son receives a grant equal to 6 months of her share in the pension. The grant is paid to each survivor only once.

Death grant: The grant is equal to twice the deceased's last monthly earnings or pension. The minimum grant is twice the minimum wage in the oil and private sectors.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted on an ad hoc basis, often at the same time as wage increases for civil servants.

Administrative Organization

Public Institution for Social Security, managed by a board of directors and chaired by the Minister of Finance, administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1976 (social insurance), not yet implemented.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

There is no specific program for work injury. Cash benefits for a work-related injury are provided through the basic system of the Old Age, Disability, and Survivors program, above.

The government pays for any medical care required as the result of a work-related injury.