Social Security

Overview: • How to tackle the crisis - ILO tools and good practices • The Social Security Situation • Pensions • Policy Measures • Cash Transfer Programmes • Unemployment Insurance • Social Security Financing • Informal Employment • Migrant Workers

• Social security in a time of crisis

  • Strange but true: claim and suspend social security (pdf 211 KB)
    Alicia H. Munnell, Alex Golub-Sass and Nadia Karamcheva, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, May 2009
  • More Americans are losing health insurance every day (pdf 277 KB)
    Nayla Kazzi, Center for American Progress, May 2009
  • Financial crisis: it is time to be credible!
    Keynote speech by François Morin, University of Toulouse, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009. Also available • Accompanying notes (pdf 27 KB)   • French (pdf 32 KB)
  • The need for solidarity: social security systems in times of crises (pdf 228 KB). Also in • French (pdf 50 KB)
    Keynote speech by Assane Diop, ILO Social Protection Sector, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009
  • Social Solidarity: the basis of social security in times of crises and beyond
    Michael Cichon and Assane Diop, ILO Social Protection Sector, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009
  • Survey on social security in times of crisis: summary of findings and conclusions (pdf 228 KB)
    International Social Security Association, 23 April 2009
  • The impact of the financial and economic crisis on Arab states: considerations on employment and social protection policy responses (pdf 507 KB). Also in • Arabic (pdf 775 KB)
    ILO, April 2009
  • Household wealth in freefall: Americans’ private safety net in tatters (pdf 639 KB)
    Christian E. Weller and Jessica Lynch, Center for American Progress, April 2009
  • Emploi, politique sociale, santé et consommateurs (pdf 269.57 KB), Conseil de l'Union européenne, 9 March 2009
  • Social protection responses to the financial crisis: what do we know? (pdf 762 KB)
    M. Davies, M and J.A. McGregor, IDS In Focus Policy Briefing, March 2009
  • Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2009. Also in • French • German
    European Commission, 2009
  • Facts on social protection in Europe and Central Asia (pdf 235 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 250 KB) •  Spanish (pdf 251 KB)
    ILO, February 2009
  • Strengthening Social Security for Vulnerable Groups (pdf 282 KB)
    Virginia P. Reno and Joni Lavery, National Academy of Social Insurance, 20 January 2009
  • Social security in a time of financial crisis
    International Social Security Association, 08 December 2008
  • Dynamic Social Security for Africa: an agenda for development (pdf 529 KB) •  French (pdf 650 KB), International Social Security Association, 2008

• Pensions

  • Private pensions and policy responses to the crisis
    Pablo Antolin and Fiona Stewart, VoxEU.org, May 2009
  • Private pensions and policy responses to the financial and economic crisis (pdf 518 KB)
    Antolín, P. and F. Stewart, OECD Working Papers on Insurance and Private Pensions, No. 36, OECD, April 2009
  • Alert to risks in the downturn: statement by the Pensions Regulator (pdf 194 KB)
    The UK Pensions Regulator, April 2009
  • Impact of the crisis on pension funds: TUAC submission to OECD WP on private pensions (pdf 106 KB).
    Trade Union Advisory Committee, March 2009
  • The economic crisis and pensions in the EU. Also in •  French
    European Union, 06 March 2009
  • The financial crisis and restoring retirement security (pdf 78.83 KB)
    Alicia H. Munnell, Testimony before the Committee on Education and Labor U.S. House of Representatives, 24 February 2009
  • Strengthening worker retirement security (pdf 33 KB)
    Dean Baker, Testimony before the House Committee on Education and Labor, 24 February 2009
  • The impact of the financial crisis on defined contribution pension provision (pdf 3.41 MB)
    Watson Wyatt Worldwide, February 2009
  • The impact of the recent financial crisis on 401(k) account balances (pdf 806 KB)
    Jack VanDerhei, Employee Benefit Research Institute, February 2009
  • Social security, the financial crisis, and lessons from abroad (pdf 89 KB)
    Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Peterson Perspectives Interviews on Current Topics, 27 January 2009
  • Social security programs and retirement around the world: the relationship to youth employment (pdf 346 KB)
    Jonathan Gruber, Kevin Milligan and David A. Wise, NBER Working Paper No. 14647, National Bureau of Economic Research, January 2009
  • Special Feature: Private Pensions and the 2008 turmoil in financial markets (pdf 751 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 920 KB)
    OECD, Pension Markets in Focus, Issue 5, December 2008
  • The Financial crisis and state/local defined benefit plans (pdf 210 KB)
    Alicia H. Munnell, Jean-Pierre Aubry, and Dan Muldoon, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, November 2008
  • Pensions in a financial crisis: how should retirement income systems respond to financial-market turmoil (pdf 192 KB)
    OECD, 2008
  • The financial crisis and mandatory pension systems in developing countries (pdf 227 KB)
    The World Bank, 12 October 2008
  • Lessons from the Financial Crisis for Retirement Security: Building Better Retirement (pdf 73 KB)
    Christian E. Weller, Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, 07 October 2008
  • Risk management and regulation of defined contribution pension schemes (pdf 226 KB)
    Christopher Daykin, International Actuarial Association, 2002

• Policy Measures

  Africa

  • Alleviating the effects of the economic crisis (pdf 254 KB)
    Presentation by Selwyn Jehoma, South African Department of Social Development, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009

  Americas

  • Policy measures adopted by the USA as a result of the financial crisis (pdf 318 KB)
    Presentation by Diane Braunstein, U.S. Social Security Administration, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009
  • Social Security in Brazil and the global financial crisis (pdf 370 KB)
    Presentation by Helmut Schwarzer, Ministry of Social Insurance, Brazil, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009
  • Canadians to benefit from improvements to the Employment Insurance program. Also in • French
    Government of Canada, March 2009
  • Mesures pour atténuer les effets de la crise financière (pdf 119 KB)
    Régie des rentes du Qébec, March 2009
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
    United States Government Printing Office, January 2009

  Asia and the Pacific

  • Australian social policy in the economic downturn (pdf 271 KB)
    Presentation by Sean Innis, Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009. Also available • Accompanying notes (pdf 132 KB)
  • Policy measures adopted by China as a result of the crisis (pdf 91 KB)
    Presentation by Xiaoping Lu, The Chinese Permanent Mission in Geneva, International Social Security Association Seminar on Social Security in Times of Crisis: Impact, Challenges and Responses, 24-25 April 2009

  Europe and Central Asia

  • Helping people fairly (pdf 255 KB)
    UK Treasury, Budget 2009, Chapter 5, April 2009
  • Mesures d'assainissement en cas de découvert (pdf 32 KB). Also in •  German (pdf 31 KB)
    Confédération suisse, Office fédéral des assurances sociales, April 2009
  • Crisis and growth: Strategy for a strong Hungary (pdf 3.30 MB)
    Government of Hungary, Office of the Prime Minister, March 2009
  • Prime exceptionnelle pour certains salariés privés d’emploi
    Legifrance.gouv.fr, March 2009
  • Welfare Reform Bill
    UK Parliament, March 2009
  • Welfare Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report (pdf 207 KB)
    UK House of Commons, Research Paper 09/23, 13 March 2009
  • Welfare Reform Bill: social security provisions (pdf 778 KB)
    UK House of Commons, Research Paper 09/23, 23 January 2009

• Cash Transfer Programmes

  • Brazil extends Bolsa Familia during the economic crisis. Also in • French • Spanish
    ILO, March 2009
  • Conditional Cash Transfers: Reducing Present and Future Poverty (pdf 4.70 MB)
    World Bank, February 2009
  • Cash Transfers in Sierra Leone: appropriate, affordable and feasible? (pdf 655 KB)
    Overseas Development Institute, August 2007
  • Cash benefits in low-income countries: simulating the effects on poverty reduction for Senegal and Tanzania (pdf 433 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 457 KB)
    ILO, 2006

• Unemployment Insurance

  • Prime exceptionnelle pour certains salariés privés d’emploi
    Legifrance.gouv.fr, March 2009
  • Canadians to benefit from improvements to the Employment Insurance program. Also in • French
    Government of Canada, March 2009
  • Unemployment Insurance Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
    Congressional Research Reports for the People, February 2009
  • Temporary extension of unemployment benefits
    Congressional Research Reports for the People, January 2009
  • The Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF)
    Congressional Research Reports for the People, January 2009
  • Economic and financial crises: ILO policy and activities: unemployment, social protection and crises: trends and issues (pdf 144 KB). Also in • French (pdf 167 KB) • Spanish (pdf 1.81 MB)
    ILO, Committee on Employment and Social Policy, 1999

• Social Security Financing

  • The impact of the financial crisis on social security schemes
    Interview with Mr. Chris Daykin, International Social Security Association, March 2009
  • Social security funds: investing for the future (pdf 346 KB) Also in • French (pdf 417 KB) • Spanish (pdf 433 KB)
    International Social Security Association, Social Policy Highlight 05, 2008
  • Financial governance and risk management of social security (pdf 118 KB) Also in •  French (pdf 127 KB) •  Spanish (pdf 118 KB)
    International Social Security Association, Technical Report 15, 2004
  • Guidelines for the investment of social security funds (pdf 338 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 132 KB) •  Spanish (pdf 128 KB)
    International Social Security Association, Technical Report 13, 2004
  • Can low income countries afford basic social protection? First results of a modelling exercise (pdf 834 KB)
    ILO, 2005
  • Financing social protection (pdf 5.91 MB)
    ILO/ISSA, 2004
  • Extending social security: policies for developing countries (pdf 480 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 635 KB)
    ILO, 2003
  • Modelling in health care finance: a compendium of quantitative techniques for health care financing (pdf 6.57 MB)
    ILO/ISSA, 1999
  • Actuarial mathematics of social security pensions (pdf 2.03 MB)
    ILO/ISSA, 1999

• Informal Employment

  • Rising informal employment will increase poverty
    OECD, 08 April 2009. Also available in •  French
  • Extending social security: policies for developing countries (pdf 480 KB). Also in •  French (pdf 635 KB)
    ILO, 2003
  • Social security for the excluded majority: case-studies of developing countries (pdf 3.44 MB). Also available in •  Spanish (pdf 1.89 MB)
    ILO, 1999

• Migrant Workers

  • Strengthening social protection for ASEAN migrant workers through social security agreements (pdf 908 KB)
    Edward Tamagno, ILO, January 2008
  • Répertoire des instruments internationaux de sécurité sociale (pdf 7.72 MB)
    ILO, 2000