Old-Age Pension, OAP
Basic Information
Country
Geographic area
Population group
Elderly persons
Programme Details
Programme objectives
To provide income security for elderly Botswana citizens.
Economic Policy Research Institute. 2011. Country profile: Botswana. Cape Town: EPRI. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://epri.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/4-Botswana.pdf>.
Start date
1996
Botswana Government. 2011. “Elderly & Benefit Services.” Ministry of Local Government website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.bw/Global/MLG/ELDERLY%202009.pdf?epslanguage=em>.
Coverage
95 per cent of the elderly (5 per cent of the total population) or 98,714 beneficiaries (in 2014)
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. n.d. Department of Social Protection Programmes. Gaborone: Government of Botswana.
Monchuk, V. 2014. Reducing Poverty and Investing in People: The New Role of Safety Nets in Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank. Accessed 11 November 2015 <https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/16256/9781464800948.pdf?sequence=1>.
Programme expenditure
0.26 per cent of GDP.
Pension Watch. n.d. “Botswana Country Page.”, Pension Watch website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.pension-watch.net/country-fact-file/botswana/>.
Targeting and eligiblity
Targeting methods
Categorical Targeting
Pension Watch. n.d. “Botswana Country Page.”, Pension Watch website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.pension-watch.net/country-fact-file/botswana/>.
Targeted areas
Nationwide.
Target groups
Elderly.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, an individual must:
• be a citizen of Botswana;
• be at least 65 years old;
• have a valid Omang (national identity card); and
• be registered with the Department of Social Services
Eligibility reassessment (if any)
If the beneficiary receives the pension via bank deposit or through a proxy, they must make a ‘life declaration’ every three months, otherwise the pension is terminated
Botswana Government .2011. “Services - Old Age Pension.” Ministry of Local Government website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/Ministry-of-LocalGovernment-MLG1/Services/Old-Age-Pension-/>.
Coverage and other information
Type of benefits
Cash.
Amount of benefits
BWP300 (USD29.41) per month.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. n.d. Department of Social Protection Programmes. Gaborone: Government of Botswana
Payment/delivery frequency
Monthly.
Botswana Government .2011. “Services - Old Age Pension.” Ministry of Local Government website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/Ministry-of-LocalGovernment-MLG1/Services/Old-Age-Pension-/>.
Benefit delivery mechanism
Beneficiaries may decide to access the allowance as: cash from Pension Officers at the Kgotla (community council); cash from post offices in areas where they are available; or bank deposits directly to their bank accounts
Botswana Government .2011. “Services - Old Age Pension.” Ministry of Local Government website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/Ministry-of-LocalGovernment-MLG1/Services/Old-Age-Pension-/>.
Benefit recipients
If beneficiaries are unable to collect the pension themselves, another person may be directly appointed by them (preferably a relative).
Botswana Government .2011. “Services - Old Age Pension.” Ministry of Local Government website. Accessed 11 November 2015. <http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/Ministry-of-LocalGovernment-MLG1/Services/Old-Age-Pension-/>.
