social grants or social welfare


Social grants are typically provided by governments to support vulnerable individuals and groups such as the elderly, disabled, unemployed, and low-income families. Here’s a list of countries that have well-established social grant programs or social welfare systems, categorized by region:

Africa

  1. South Africa: Social grants include old age pensions, disability grants, child support grants, and foster care grants. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) administers each of these grants.
  2. Namibia: Offers old age pensions, disability grants, child maintenance, and foster care grants. The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW) administers each of these grants.
  3. Botswana: Provides old age pensions, disability benefits, and orphan care programs.
  4. Lesotho: Offers an old age pension.
  5. Kenya: Has programs like the Hunger Safety Net Programme and the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme.
  6. Nigeria: Introduced conditional cash transfer programs for the poor and vulnerable.
  7. Ghana: Operates the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program.
  8. Zambia: Runs the Social Cash Transfer Program for the elderly and vulnerable households.
  9. Tanzania: Has social welfare programs like the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) to reduce poverty.
  10. Uganda: Runs programs like the Senior Citizens Grant for the elderly.
  11. Rwanda: Operates the Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP), which includes social protection measures.

Europe

  1. United Kingdom: Provides various social benefits like pensions, jobseeker’s allowance, housing benefits, and disability benefits.
  2. Germany: Offers unemployment benefits, child support, pensions, and social welfare for low-income individuals.
  3. France: Has a wide range of social grants, including family benefits, unemployment benefits, housing allowances, and pensions.
  4. Sweden: Offers social insurance benefits, child support, unemployment benefits, and elderly pensions.
  5. Netherlands: Provides social security programs for unemployment, disability, and child benefits.
  6. Norway: Has a comprehensive welfare state that includes pensions, unemployment benefits, and disability support.
  7. Denmark: Offers a strong social safety net, including unemployment benefits, child support, and pensions.
  8. Spain: Provides unemployment benefits, pensions, and family support.
  9. Italy: Offers pensions, unemployment benefits, and various family allowances.
  10. Finland: Provides social security benefits like unemployment support, pensions, and child benefits.

Asia

  1. India: Provides social grants through programs like the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which includes pensions for the elderly, disabled, and widows.
  2. China: Has established basic social security systems including pensions, unemployment insurance, and medical insurance.
  3. Japan: Provides a range of social security benefits like pensions, healthcare, and unemployment insurance.
  4. South Korea: Offers various social benefits including national pensions, unemployment insurance, and basic livelihood security.
  5. Bangladesh: Operates safety net programs like old age pensions, disability benefits, and widows’ allowances.
  6. Philippines: Has social protection programs including pensions, disability benefits, and conditional cash transfers under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

North America

  1. United States: Provides social security (old age, survivors, and disability insurance), unemployment benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and welfare programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
  2. Canada: Offers social programs like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI), and various child benefits.
  3. Mexico: Operates programs like Prospera, which provides financial assistance to families in poverty, and pensions for seniors.
  4. Costa Rica: Provides pensions, disability grants, and poverty alleviation programs.
  5. Panama: Offers pensions, disability support, and conditional cash transfers for the poor.

South America

  1. Brazil: Operates the Bolsa Família program for low-income families and social security programs like pensions and unemployment benefits.
  2. Argentina: Provides a variety of social security programs including family allowances, pensions, and unemployment benefits.
  3. Chile: Offers pensions, unemployment insurance, and social security benefits for low-income families.
  4. Uruguay: Provides pensions, unemployment insurance, and social welfare benefits.
  5. Colombia: Operates programs like Familias en Acción for low-income families and elderly pensions.
  6. Peru: Offers social programs like Pensión 65 for elderly citizens in poverty and conditional cash transfers.

Oceania

  1. Australia: Has a comprehensive welfare system that includes pensions, unemployment benefits, disability support, and family assistance.
  2. New Zealand: Provides pensions, unemployment benefits, disability support, and working family tax credits.

Middle East

  1. Israel: Offers pensions, unemployment benefits, disability allowances, and child benefits.
  2. Saudi Arabia: Provides social welfare support for low-income citizens, including pensions for the elderly and disability benefits.
  3. United Arab Emirates: Offers social welfare programs for low-income citizens, including pensions and family support.

Conclusion

Most countries provide some form of social grants or welfare programs, though the structure and extent of these benefits vary widely. High-income countries often have more comprehensive social security systems, while middle- and low-income countries tend to focus on specific vulnerable populations.