Old-Age Pension, OAP
Basic Information
Country
Geographic area
Population group
Elderly persons
Programme Details
Programme objectives
To provide elderly people with a source of income.
. Freeland, N., and B. Khondker. 2015. “Launch of Lesotho’s National Social
Protection Strategy.” Pathways’ Perspectives, No. 18. Accessed 11 November 2015.
<http://www.developmentpathways.co.uk/resources/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/18.-Lesothos-National-Social-Protection-Strategy-PP18.pdf>.
Start date
2005
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
Coverage
85,087 beneficiaries
Programme expenditure
2.39 per cent of GDP
Targeting and eligiblity
Targeting methods
Categorical Targeting
Targeted areas
Nationwide
Target groups
Elderly people
Eligibility criteria
This is a universal pension for all citizens aged 70 and older.
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
Coverage and other information
Type of benefits
Cash
Amount of benefits
Initially, the monthly transfer was LSL150, but it currently
stands at LSL450 (USD40). A further increase to LSL500
(USD45) was recently announced.
Freeland, N., and B. Khondker. 2015. “Launch of Lesotho’s National Social
Protection Strategy.” Pathways’ Perspectives, No. 18. Accessed 11 November 2015.
<http://www.developmentpathways.co.uk/resources/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/18.-Leso
thos-National-Social-Protection-Strategy-PP18.pdf>.
Payment/delivery frequency
Monthly
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
Benefit delivery mechanism
Benefits are delivered in person at local post offices.
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
Benefit recipients
Pensioners
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and frequency
District Officers are responsible for monitoring the pension
payments locally and the local chiefs (part of the existing hierarchies
in Basotho society) have also been incorporated into the administration
to varying degrees.
Winnberg, E. 2012. “Social Protection in Developing Countries - The Lesotho Old Age Pension.”
Master’s Thesis in Human Geography, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of
Oslo. Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/15968/Winnberg.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y>.
