Updated 20 October 2026 (4 Kartik 2083). Checked against the Contribution-based Social Security Act 2074 (as amended in 2082), SSF’s Informal and Self-Employed Sector Social Security Scheme Operation Procedure 2079 (with first amendment), the Employer and Worker Registration Procedure 2075, SSF’s Social Security Day 2082 press release, and the minimum wage notice that took effect on 17 July 2025.
Most working Nepalis have no appointment letter. A construction labourer paid by the day, a domestic worker, a tractor driver or a farm hand usually has no payroll, no provident fund and no gratuity. Since 2080 Shrawan 31, the Social Security Fund (सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोष, SSF) has run a separate scheme for exactly these workers. This guide explains who qualifies, what the monthly contribution is, what the scheme pays, and how to register.
Formal, informal, self-employed or abroad: which scheme fits you?
SSF runs different procedures for different kinds of work. Picking the right one matters, because the contribution and the benefits are different.
| Your situation | SSF route |
|---|---|
| Appointment letter, payroll, registered employer | Formal sector scheme. The employer must list you |
| You work for others without a formal contract (farm, transport, construction, domestic work) | Informal sector scheme (this guide) |
| You run your own business or freelance | Self-employed scheme (self-employed guide) |
| You work abroad | Foreign employment scheme (foreign employment contribution guide) |
The informal procedure lists agriculture, transport, construction and domestic work as examples of informal work. The Registration Procedure 2075 defines the informal sector simply as work outside the organised sector.
How much an informal worker contributes
Under section 5 of the Informal and Self-Employed Procedure, the contribution is calculated on the minimum basic remuneration (न्यूनतम आधारभूत पारिश्रमिक), not on what you actually earn:
- 11% comes from the worker.
- 9.37% is added by the government.
- Together that makes 20.37%.
The national minimum wage that took effect on 17 July 2025 is Rs 19,550 a month, of which Rs 12,170 is the basic wage. We found no newer minimum wage notice as of 20 October 2026, so Rs 12,170 is still the base.
| Item | Rate | Monthly amount at Rs 12,170 basic (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|
| Worker’s share | 11% | Rs 1,338.70 |
| Government’s share | 9.37% | Rs 1,140.33 |
| Total into SSF | 20.37% | Rs 2,479.03 |
| Of which: medical, accident and dependent-family schemes | 10.37% | Rs 1,262.03 |
| Of which: old-age scheme | 10% | Rs 1,217.00 |
One important catch: section 5(2) says that if the federal, provincial or local government deposits less than its share, or nothing, the worker may pay the remaining amount personally and still join. SSF’s November 2025 press release says 114 local governments (पालिका) had signed agreements with SSF to enrol informal workers and that some had joined with a co-contribution. Ask your ward or municipality whether it pays a share before you assume the 9.37% will arrive.
Informal workers can also pay extra. Section 21(2) allows voluntary contributions of up to 31% of three times the minimum wage, which go into a retirement savings account.
What the informal scheme pays
The benefits below come from the Informal and Self-Employed Procedure 2079. Amounts linked to the minimum basic remuneration rise when the minimum wage is revised.
| Benefit | What the procedure provides |
|---|---|
| Hospital treatment | Up to Rs 1 lakh a year for the contributor, spouse and children under 18 when admitted to hospital; you pay 20% of each claim, paid to the hospital directly |
| Maternity | 60% of the minimum basic remuneration for 98 days, about Rs 23,853 at today’s base (our calculation) |
| Child care | One month of minimum basic remuneration per child |
| Accident treatment | Up to Rs 7 lakh |
| Temporary total disability | 60% of minimum basic remuneration each month until you can work again |
| Death of contributor | Spouse pension at 40% of minimum basic remuneration; education allowance for up to two children; Rs 25,000 for funeral costs |
| Old age | At 60, the pension account plus returns, divided by 160, paid monthly for life |
Treatment is paid at the rates in SSF’s health institution procedure, and cosmetic surgery, dental work (unless needed after an accident) and fat-removal surgery are excluded.
Waiting periods before you can claim
Benefits are not available from day one. Section 6 of the procedure sets minimum contribution records:
- Medical and maternity: at least 3 months of contributions in the 6 months before the event.
- Accident: at least 3 months in the previous 6 months.
- Spouse pension and children’s education allowance: at least 9 months in the previous 12 months.
- Funeral expenses: at least 1 month in the previous 6 months.
This is why paying every month matters more than paying a large amount once.
How to register: step by step
- Collect your documents. Section 3(4) asks for a copy of your citizenship certificate, the sector you work in (for example agriculture, transport, construction or domestic work), and a recommendation letter from your ward office (वडा कार्यालय) confirming that you work in the informal sector.
- Get a recommendation from the ward. Visit your ward office with your citizenship and ask for the informal-worker recommendation. Some municipalities that have signed agreements with SSF help with this directly.
- Apply. Submit the application in the Schedule 2 format at an SSF office, a body designated by SSF, or through SSF’s online system (sosys.ssf.gov.np). SSF’s citizen charter says online registration and SSF number issue take up to 3 days.
- Receive your SSF number and ID card. Once SSF checks your application it lists you and issues a social security identity card. Your social security number (SSN) is 11 digits.
- Complete KYC and add a nominee. Bank details in your KYC are needed before SSF can pay you (KYC and nominee guide).
- Start paying monthly. Your benefits depend on an unbroken record, so set a fixed date each month.
When the “employer” refuses to cooperate
Many informal workers do have someone they work for regularly: a contractor, a household, a shop owner. Two situations need different answers.
- You actually have an employment relationship. If you work for an employer covered by the Act, the employer must list you in the formal scheme and contribute 20% on top of your 11%. Under the Registration Procedure 2075, if an employer does not list a worker, the worker can apply to SSF directly, and SSF can order the employer to list the worker within 15 days. Keep evidence of your work: wage records, attendance, payment messages.
- There is no fixed employer. If you work for many people by the day, the informal scheme is the realistic route. You do not need anyone’s permission to join it.
If an employer deducted money from your wages for SSF but never deposited it, that is a separate problem with its own complaint path (employer not depositing SSF).
Moving to a formal job later
Section 34 of the procedure lets SSF convert your informal-sector participation into the formal scheme if you are later appointed as a worker in the formal sector. Your SSN stays the same, so your record continues.
Need help with SSF registration, KYC or claims?
Digital Solution helps with SSF registration, KYC updates, contribution records and claim documents, online and step by step. SSF सम्बन्धी काममा सहयोग चाहिए सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्।
Frequently asked questions
Can daily-wage workers join SSF?
Yes. Workers in the informal sector, such as farm, transport, construction and domestic workers, can register under SSF’s Informal and Self-Employed Procedure 2079 with a citizenship copy and a ward office recommendation.
How much does an informal worker pay each month?
The worker’s share is 11% of the minimum basic remuneration, which is Rs 1,338.70 at the current Rs 12,170 base. The government adds 9.37%, but if it does not, the worker may pay that part too.
Do informal workers get a pension?
Yes. The old-age share goes into a pension account. From age 60, the balance plus returns is divided by 160 and paid monthly for life. If the contributor dies first, the balance goes to the heirs.
Is hospital treatment covered for my family?
Yes, for the contributor, spouse and children under 18, up to Rs 1 lakh a year for hospital admission, with a 20% co-payment, once you have at least 3 months of contributions in the last 6 months.
I work for two different people. Can both contribute?
You have one SSN for life. If more than one employer must contribute for you in the formal scheme, SSF has an application form for adding employer links to one contributor ID. Ask SSF on hotline 1116 how it applies to your case.
Conclusion
The informal sector scheme turns a few hundred to a few thousand rupees a month into medical, accident, family and old-age protection that daily-wage workers have never had. Register with a ward recommendation, check whether your municipality pays the government share, complete KYC, and pay every month so the waiting periods never catch you out.
Sources
- Social Security Fund, Contribution-based Social Security Act 2074 (as amended in 2082): https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/contribution-based-social-security-act-2074
- Social Security Fund, Informal and Self-Employed Sector Social Security Scheme Operation Procedure 2079 with first amendment: https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/informal-and-self-employed-sector-social-security-scheme-operation-procedure-with-first-amendment-2079
- Social Security Fund, Employer and Worker Registration Procedure 2075: https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/rajagarathata-ra-sharamakaka-sacakaranae-samabnathha-karayavathha
- Social Security Fund, Press release on Social Security Day 2082 (27 November 2025): https://ssf.gov.np/list/press_release/press-release
- Social Security Fund, Citizen charter (2026): https://ssf.gov.np/pages/citizen-charter
- Pradhan & Associates, Minimum Remuneration Notice 2082 (24 July 2025): https://pradhanlaw.com/publications/minimum-remuneration-notice-2082-2025-ad
- The Himalayan Times, Govt hikes workers’ minimum wage to Rs 19,550 per month (18 July 2025): https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/govt-hikes-workers-minimum-wage-to-rs-19550-per-month
Digital Solution Pvt. Ltd. is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the Social Security Fund; confirm your contribution, eligibility and benefits with SSF (ssf.gov.np, hotline 1116) before acting.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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