San Marino

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First and current laws: 1955 (social security system) and 2011 (pensions), implemented 2012.

Type of program: Social insurance and mandatory individual accounts system.

Note: A system of mandatory individual accounts was introduced in 2012 as a supplement to the social insurance system. Both the insured person and the employer are required to contribute.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 4.20% of gross earnings.

The insured's contributions also finance work injury benefits.

Self-employed person: Contributions vary from €15,000 to €28,000 a year, according to the category of self-employment.

The self-employed person's contributions also finance work injury benefits.

Employer: 16.10% of payroll.

The employer's contributions also finance work injury benefits.

Government: 10% of total contributions (higher contributions are made for agricultural workers) or up to 25% to cover any deficit.

Government contributions also finance work injury benefits.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: Age 65 (rising gradually to age 66 from 2019 to 2021) with at least 20 years of contributions (4,320 days of contributions); age 60 with at least 40 years of contributions. For insured persons who entered the labor force before January 1, 2006, transitional provisions apply.

Partial pension: A reduced pension is paid at age 60 with 35 to 39 years of contributions.

Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred.

Disability pension: Paid for a loss of working capacity of at least 65% with at least seven years of contributions, including at least two years in the last three years before the disability began.

A means-tested minimum pension may be paid.

Survivor pension: The deceased had at least seven years of contributions, including at least one year of coverage in the five years before death; or a total of 15 years of contributions.

Eligible survivors are a widow, unemployed widower with a disability, and children younger than age 18 (age 26 if a student or disabled). The widow(er) must have been married to and living with the deceased at the time of death.

The widow(er)'s pension ceases on remarriage.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: The pension is 2% of half of the legally fixed amount for each year of coverage plus 1.5% of the portion of reference earnings that exceeds the legally fixed amount.

The legally fixed amount for 2012 is €43,134.

Reference earnings used to calculate benefits are the average daily earnings in the last 10 years before retirement, multiplied by 16.615. For coverage periods completed after 2011 benefits are calculated based on wages or earnings in the last 20 years.

The pension must not exceed 100% of the insured's last monthly earnings before retirement.

A means-tested minimum pension is paid.

Transitional provisions apply to persons with at least 216 days of contributions before January 1, 2006.

Partial pension: The pension is reduced by 15% with 35 years of contributions; 10% with 36 years; 6% with 37 years; 4% with 38 years; and 2% with 39 years.

Deferred pension: The pension is increased by 3% for each year of deferral after the normal retirement age.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the cost-of-living index.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: The pension is 2% of half of the legally fixed amount for each year of coverage plus 1.5% of the portion of reference earnings that exceeds the legally fixed amount.

The legally fixed amount is €43,134 for 2012.

Reference earnings used to calculate benefits are equal to the average daily earnings in up to the last 10 years before the disability began, multiplied by 16.615. For coverage periods completed after 2011 benefits are calculated based on wages or earnings in the last 20 years.

The pension must not exceed 100% of the insured's last monthly earnings before retirement.

A means-tested minimum pension is paid.

Transitional provisions apply to persons with at least 216 days of contributions before January 1, 2006.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the cost-of-living index.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 65% to 100% of the pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive is paid to the surviving spouse and children, depending on the number of survivors.

Administrative Organization

National Social Security Institute (http://www.iss.sm) administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1955 (medical benefits).

Current laws: 1974 (temporary incapacity), 1977 (cash benefits), 1980, 1988, 1990 (social security), 1993, 2003, and 2008.

Type of program: Social insurance (cash benefits) and universal (medical benefits) system.

Coverage

Cash sickness and maternity benefits: Employed and self-employed persons.

Medical benefits: All residents of San Marino.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Up to 4% of gross earnings, according to the self-employment category.

Employer: 5% of payroll.

Government: None (cash benefits); 50% of direct taxes (medical benefits).

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness and maternity benefits: There is no qualifying period.

Medical benefits: There is no qualifying period.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 86% of the insured's monthly earnings for the first 15 days is paid, 100% until the end of the sixth month, and 86% until the end of the 12th month. The benefit is paid for up to 365 days for workers with permanent employment contracts; to the end of the employment contract for workers with short-term employment contracts.

Maternity benefit: 100% of the insured's earnings is paid for five months (two months before and three months after the expected date of childbirth); thereafter, mothers can remain on leave and receive a benefit of 30% of earnings for one year and 20% for an additional six months, or they can return to work and take up to two hours of leave a day with full pay until the child is age 1.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical services are provided by doctors of the National Social Security Institute and state hospitals. Benefits include all medical services, hospitalization, maternity care, and medications.

The Institute of Social Security reimburses patients €12.91 for tooth extractions and €30.99 for other dental care. Dental services are free for children up to age 14 and for pensioners.

There is no cost sharing.

There is no limit to duration.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits for dependents are the same as those for the insured.

Administrative Organization

National Social Security Institute (http://www.iss.sm) administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First and current laws: 1983 (pensions) and 2008 (pensions).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed and self-employed persons.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Self-employed person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

100% of the insured's earnings is paid.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefit: If assessed with a total disability, the pension is based on the insured's annual earnings in the last year before the disability began.

Partial disability: A percentage of the disability pension is paid according to the assessed degree of disability (no less than 15%).

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the cost-of-living index.

Workers' Medical Benefits

All necessary medical services and benefits are provided free of charge.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 65% to 100% of the pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive is paid to the surviving spouse and children, depending on the number of survivors.

The survivor pension ceases on remarriage.

Administrative Organization

National Social Security Institute (http://www.iss.sm) administers the program.

State hospitals, or government-approved establishments, deliver medical services.

Unemployment

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1967 (unemployment).

Current law: 2010 (unemployment).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Unemployment benefit: All employees.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Temporary unemployment benefit: Employees in most sectors of work.

Source of Funds

Insured person

Unemployment benefits: 0.5% of gross earnings.

Temporary unemployment benefits: None.

Self-employed person

Not applicable.

Employer

Unemployment benefits: 1.9% of payroll.

Temporary unemployment benefits: 7% of payroll.

Government

Unemployment benefits: None.

Temporary unemployment benefits: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Unemployment benefit: Must have worked at least 121 days in the last two years.

Special economic benefit: Paid in the event of mass unemployment or the closure of the place of employment.

Temporary unemployment benefit: Paid for temporary unemployment that results from unforeseen circumstances, restructuring, or a short-term market downturn.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefit: The benefit varies according to the insured's number of days of contributions. With 121 to 242 days, 30% of the insured's average earnings in the four months before unemployment is paid for up to 90 days; with at least 243 days, 60% is paid for the first six months and 50% from the seventh to the eight month; with at least 243 days of contributions and older than age 50, 40% of the insured's average earnings in the four months before unemployment is paid from the ninth to the 12th month of unemployment.

Special economic benefit: With at least 216 days of work with the same employer, 70% of the insured's earnings is paid for up to six months; thereafter, 65% of earnings for up to six months. With 162 to 215 days of work with the same employer, 60% of the insured's earnings is paid for up to six months; thereafter, 50% of earnings for up to six months.

Temporary unemployment benefit: 72% to 82% of the insured's earnings is paid for up to nine months, depending on the reason for unemployment.

Administrative Organization

National Social Security Institute (http://www.iss.sm) administers the program.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1976.

Current law: 1999 (integrative family allowance) and 2009 (family allowance).

Type of program: Family benefits are provided through an employment-related program.

Coverage

Employed persons and pensioners. 

Source of Funds

See source of funds under Unemployment.

Qualifying Conditions

Family allowance: All residents of San Marino.

Family allowance supplement (means-tested): Residents of San Marino with annual household per capita income of €8,500 or less.

Family Allowance Benefits

Family allowances: €69.50 is paid for the first dependent; €90.50 for the second; €112.50 for the third; €133.50 for the fourth; €160.50 for the fifth.

Family allowances supplement (means-tested): €69.50 is paid for the first dependent; €90.50 for the second; €112.50 for the third; €133.50 for the fourth; €160.50 for the fifth. A supplement is paid to those families with per capita income less than €8,500. For each child older than age 16 in secondary education, the family allowance supplement is increased from 5% to 10%.

Administrative Organization

National Social Security Institute (http://www.iss.sm) administers the program.