The government has amended the social security procedure to boost its appeal amid lacklustre participation. The Social Security Fund (SSF), launched by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during his previous stint as the head of the government, has undergone its fifth amendment to enhance implementation.

Previously, the SSF provided benefits only to contributors and their spouses. With the latest amendment, their children will also be eligible for certain benefits. Contributors who have made payments for at least 60 months can now receive a 50 percent discount at designated hospitals for medical treatment up to Rs 1 million if the cost exceeds Rs 100,000. Additionally, while the previous arrangement covered only the contributor’s treatment in case of an accident, the new provision extends this benefit—up to Rs 100,000—to their spouse and children.

Under the revised policy, contributors, their spouses, and children under 18 will qualify for medical treatment and health security plan benefits if they have contributed for at least three consecutive months within the last six months.

The SSF will cover full expenses for work-related accidents and up to Rs 700,000 for other accidents, with contributors responsible for the remaining expenses.

Bivek Panthi, Deputy Executive Director of the Social Security Fund, stated that the procedure has been revised for the fifth time to make the schemes more effective. He emphasized that additional facilities have been introduced to encourage participation.

A new provision ensures that benefits begin after contributors make continuous payments for three months. The facility will remain available for three months even after they stop contributing due to the end of their employment relationship.

So far, the Social Security Fund has collected Rs 75.36 billion from the contributors. According to SSF data, 565,000 workers from 20,190 establishments have joined the scheme. However, a large portion of Nepal’s labor force remains outside the SSF’s coverage. The 2078 census estimates Nepal’s total labor force at around 16.8 million, with 2.5 to 3.5 million employed in the formal sector. Many workers in both formal and informal sectors have yet to enroll in the fund.