Nepal’s SSF has collected over Rs. 81 Arba! But who’s funding it, and who’s missing out? Discover the surprising truths inside. Read the full SSF breakdown now.

Let’s start with something you wouldn’t expect:

Nepalis working abroad are contributing more to our national social security fund than most employers inside the country.

Yes, more than 13.9 lakh migrant workers are actively paying into Nepal’s Social Security Fund (SSF), quietly keeping it afloat from thousands of miles away. Meanwhile, back home, the entire self-employed and informal sector, the ones who arguably need the safety net the most, have barely shown up.

In fact, the combined contribution from all informal and self-employed workers so far is less than what a single mid-sized company in Kathmandu might pay in a year.

So, what is this SSF anyway?

Think of it as Nepal’s official safety net, a government-run fund designed to support you during medical emergencies, accidents, retirement, or even when you're abroad sending money home. You (or your employer) chip in every month, and in return, SSF promises to catch you when life takes a fall. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Nepal’s SSF scheme.

Sounds great, right?

But, despite over Rs. 81 Arba already collected in the fund (yes, that’s 81 billion rupees!), hardly anyone knows:

• Who’s really contributing?
• Who’s actually getting the benefits?
• And most importantly, who’s being left behind?

Let’s break open the numbers (As of 2082-02-25) and take a closer look at what Nepal’s SSF really looks like, who’s funding it, who’s using it, and why some of the biggest contributors aren’t even in the country anymore.

1. Contributors by Province and Employment Type

The SSF isn’t just a Kathmandu thing. People from all over Nepal are contributing to it. But the numbers show a huge gap between provinces, and even bigger differences between types of employment.

1.1 Formal Sector: Still Leading the Way

Out of 22.86 lakh total contributors, about 5.9 lakh come from the formal sector. These are your typical office-goers, factory workers, school teachers in private institutions, basically anyone whose employer is officially registered and pays SSF on their behalf.

And guess what? Bagmati Province alone has 447,432 contributors. That’s over 75% of all formal contributors across Nepal. In contrast:

• Karnali and Far-west have just 3,017 contributors each.
• Madhesh has 29,091.
• Koshi has 62,414, still far behind Bagmati.

This just confirms what we already know: most of Nepal’s formal economy is concentrated around Kathmandu. The rest of the country is either less formalized or under-registered with SSF.

1.2 Foreign Employment: A Surprising Heavyweight

Here’s something you probably didn’t expect; 5.9 lakh Nepalis working abroad are actively contributing to SSF. That’s just as many as the entire formal sector!

This shows that SSF is gaining real traction among migrant workers, especially those in the Gulf or Malaysia. These workers are now getting covered under schemes like dependent family protection and old-age savings, which is a huge win for financial security.

1.3 Informal Sector: Big in Numbers, Small in Contribution

Now comes the shocker. 13.95 lakh people from the informal sector have signed up for SSF.

Sounds great, right?

Well… not exactly. Because their actual monetary contribution is barely visible when compared to formal contributors. It's like a stadium full of people showing up to support a fundraiser and only dropping 5 rupees each into the box.

This shows that while registration from the informal sector is high, contribution levels are tiny; probably due to very low or irregular incomes, lack of awareness, or unclear benefits.

1.4 Self-Employed: The Missing Link

There are only 372 self-employed people contributing to SSF.

That’s right. In a country filled with freelancers, local shop owners, YouTubers, barbers, tailors, and tuition teachers, only 372 people have joined the SSF as self-employed contributors.

It’s like the entire self-employed community in Nepal is standing outside the SSF door, but no one’s knocking.

2. Employer Concentration: Kathmandu Does All the Heavy Lifting

Now here’s something that probably won’t shock you, but it should concern you:
Out of 20,679 employers registered under the SSF, more than 14,000 (that’s over two-thirds) are based in just one province: Bagmati.

Yep, Kathmandu Valley is doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to SSF participation from employers.

Here’s how it breaks down:

2.1 What does this mean?

It shows that:

• Formal jobs are highly centralized in Kathmandu and a few urban hubs.
• Employers outside Bagmati are either not aware, not registering, or are still part of the informal economy.
• Karnali and Far-west, two of Nepal’s most economically vulnerable regions, together have less than 600 employers participating in SSF. That’s less than some business parks in Lalitpur.

2.2 Why is this a problem?

Because SSF depends heavily on employer registration. If employers don’t enroll, their employees never get access to benefits like:

• Medical reimbursements
• Accident coverage
• Retirement savings
• Family protection

That means millions of workers outside Bagmati are missing out, not because they don’t want SSF coverage, but because their employers haven’t joined.

2.3 What’s holding back the rest?

There could be a few reasons:

• Lack of awareness: many small businesses outside Kathmandu may not even know SSF exists.
• Paperwork fear: business owners may think it’s complicated, like filing taxes.
• Trust issues: without seeing direct benefits, employers might be reluctant to “deduct and deposit” from staff salaries.

But here’s the truth: SSF isn’t just another tax. It’s a safety net, and in an uncertain country like ours, every worker;  formal or informal, deserves that kind of protection.

Up next: We’ll explore where all this money goes, and which schemes are being used (or ignored). Spoiler: One scheme has over 5 lakh claims while another has barely 700.

3. Where the Money Goes: Scheme-by-Scheme Breakdown

So now that we know who’s contributing to the SSF, let’s talk about where all that money ends up.

The big number?
Rs. 81 Arba 34 Crore has been collected under various schemes. That’s over 81 billion rupees sitting in the SSF pool, waiting to help people in times of need.

But how much of that has actually been used?

Just about Rs. 14 Arba 97 Crore has been claimed so far, meaning only 18% of the collected funds have been used.

Let’s break it down by scheme and see what’s really happening:

3.1 Medicinal Scheme: The Most Used (and Most Familiar)

• Claims made: 5.4 lakh+ times
• People who claimed: 1.04 lakh
• Total amount claimed: Rs. 1.98 Arba

This is by far the most actively used scheme under SSF. Makes sense, right? Medical emergencies are common, and people are starting to realize SSF can actually help with hospital bills and medicine costs.

Average payout per claim: Roughly Rs. 3,700, which suggests it’s mostly being used for smaller, more routine expenses than big surgeries.

3.2 Accidental Scheme: Small Use, Big Payouts

• Claims made: 10,001 times
• People who claimed: 5,542
• Total claimed: Rs. 1.93 Arba

This scheme has fewer claims. But when it’s used, the payouts are significantly larger than the medicinal scheme.

Think road accidents, worksite injuries, or permanent disability. The support here is vital, and the numbers show that when people do access it, SSF really delivers.

3.3 Dependent Family Protection Scheme: Nepal’s Hidden SSF Giant

• Total contribution collected: Rs. 51.18 Arba (yes, over 63% of all SSF funds!)
• Claims made: Only 726 people so far
• Amount claimed: Just Rs. 24.17 Crore

Now this one is wild. The dependent family protection scheme has collected the most money by far, but barely anyone has claimed from it.

Why?

Maybe people don’t know they’re eligible. Maybe the process is confusing. Maybe awareness is missing.
Either way, this scheme is sitting on a giant pile of money while thousands of families could be struggling after the death or disability of a breadwinner.

This is SSF’s biggest untapped benefit, and it’s time people knew more about it.

3.4 Old Age Scheme: Big Money, Big Promise

• Total collected: Rs. 66.5 Arba
• Claims made: 1.17 lakh times
• People who claimed: 1.09 lakh
• Total claimed: Rs. 12.54 Arba

This is Nepal’s version of a pension, and it’s working.

Tens of thousands of people are now receiving support after retirement, especially from the foreign employment group. It’s proof that SSF isn’t just an emergency fund. It’s a long-term safety net if you stick with it.

3.5 So, Where Do We Stand?

3.7 Quick Takeaways:

• SSF has tons of money. But most of it hasn’t been claimed.
• People are mostly using it for medical expenses, not long-term security.
• The dependent family scheme is the most underused benefit.
• There’s a serious awareness gap, especially in the informal and migrant sectors.
• Transparency and education could dramatically boost trust and usage.
  Here’s more on what these schemes cover, some popular myths about SSF and benefits most people don't know about.

4. Informal & Self-Employed Workers: Present on Paper, Absent in Practice

Let’s talk about the most glaring blind spot in Nepal’s SSF story; the informal and self-employed workforce.

You’d think these would be the first people lining up for a social safety net, right? After all, they don’t have job security, paid leave, or employer-sponsored healthcare.

But here’s the reality, backed by SSF’s own numbers:

In a country where millions of people work without formal contracts, that’s shockingly low.

4.1 Let’s Break That Down:

A. Informal Sector (581 contributors)

Together, they’ve contributed:

• Rs. 43.89 lakh to the Medicinal Scheme, and
• Rs. 43.60 lakh to the Old Age Scheme.

That’s Rs. 87.5 lakh in total.

It’s a drop in the bucket compared to the Rs. 81+ Arba collected by SSF overall.
In fact, it’s less than 0.1% of the fund.

B. Self-Employed (372 contributors)

They’ve put in:

• Rs. 2.1 lakh for Medicinal,
• Rs. 3 lakh for Accidental,
• Rs. 58,759 for Family Protection, and
• Rs. 66.8 lakh for the Old Age Scheme.

Total? Rs. 72.6 lakh.

That’s still less than what a single mid-sized employer might contribute annually.

4.2 So What’s Going On?

A. Awareness Is Extremely Low

Most informal and self-employed workers probably don’t even know they’re eligible for SSF, or what benefits it offers. There’s no widespread campaign targeting drivers, tailors, farmers, freelancers, or home-based workers.

B. No Employer = No Support System

For formal workers, the employer handles the entire SSF registration and deduction process. But for those without employers, there’s no one guiding them through the system. It’s a DIY process, and that’s a big barrier.

C. Digital Divide & Complexity

Imagine being a vegetable vendor or solo mason in a rural area, would you know how to:

• Open the SSF portal,
• Fill out a registration form,
• Pick contribution schemes,
• And then consistently pay online every month?

It’s not realistic yet.

D. No Incentive Without Immediate Benefit

If you're self-employed or working informally, and money is tight, why would you “invest” in a future benefit you don't understand or trust?

Until the SSF system can show clear, real-life success stories for people like them, participation will remain low.

4.3 What Needs to Change?

For SSF to become a true “social safety net for all,” we need a bold shift:

A. Community-Based Onboarding
– Use cooperatives, ward offices, and local NGOs to spread awareness and simplify sign-ups.

B. Offline + Mobile Options
– Think QR-code payments via Khalti or eSewa, SMS reminders, and in-person kiosks, not just a website.

C. Flexible Payment Models
– Let people contribute Rs. 50 or 100 at a time. Micro-contributions are still better than no participation.

D. Make It Visible and Tangible
– Run testimonials and case studies of self-employed contributors who benefited from SSF during accidents or retirement.

The SSF has the structure. It has the schemes. It even has Rs. 81 Arba waiting to help.

But unless we bring in the people who need it most; the informal and self-employed workers, we’ll continue to see a “national fund” that serves only a fraction of the nation.

5. Foreign Workers Are Powering SSF Outpacing Domestic Contributors

Here’s a fact that might stop you in your tracks:

More Nepalis working abroad are contributing to SSF than all the people working in formal jobs inside Nepal.

Seriously.

And not just by a little, but by a huge margin.

Let’s look at the numbers:

That means for every 1 person working formally in Nepal, there are more than 2 Nepalis abroad contributing to SSF.

5.1 Migrant Workers: The Silent Backbone of SSF

We’ve always known that Nepali migrant workers keep the economy afloat through remittances. But what this data reveals is something even more powerful:

They’re also the backbone of our national social security system.

While many employers inside Nepal still haven’t enrolled in SSF, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis in Qatar, UAE, Malaysia, and elsewhere are voluntarily opting in.

And they’re not just signing up, they’re contributing regularly, and in significant amounts.

5.2 How Much Are They Contributing?

Unlike domestic workers who access all four SSF schemes, foreign workers mainly contribute to just two:

That’s almost Rs. 4 Arba from a workforce that isn’t even living in the country, and contributes voluntarily, without direct employer enforcement on Nepali soil.

And Meanwhile, In Nepal,

Only 20,679 employers in Nepal are registered with SSF.

Their combined contributions, while higher in amount, are supported by far fewer contributors. The migrant workforce has more than double the enrollment, despite being scattered across the globe.

5.3 Why Are Migrant Workers Signing Up More?

Here’s what’s driving this impressive participation:

A. Government Mandate for Departure

To go abroad legally for employment, Nepali workers are required to enroll in SSF. It’s tied to their labor permits, so compliance is high.

B. High-Risk Jobs

Jobs abroad often involve manual labor, construction, and factory work, which come with serious accident and injury risks. So, schemes like accidental coverage and family protection are seen as essential.

C. Real Incentives, Real Fear

Many migrant workers have witnessed real tragedies: co-workers injured or families left behind without support. SSF offers peace of mind, especially with the dependent family protection scheme that supports their loved ones back home.

5.4 What’s the Bigger Lesson Here?

• When enrollment is required, and the benefits are clear, people sign up.
• When systems are made part of a formal process (like foreign job processing), they work.
• And most importantly, Nepalis abroad are showing more trust and participation in SSF than many employers inside Nepal.

It’s both heartwarming and humbling to realize that the people who had to leave Nepal for work are among those still investing in its future, through SSF.

They’ve done their part.
Now it’s time to make sure the same protection and participation reaches workers here at home; in shops, offices, farms, buses, startups, and street corners across Nepal.

Final Thoughts

The Social Security Fund (SSF) isn’t just a number on a government report. It’s a promise that no Nepali worker, no matter where they are or how they earn, should face life’s hardships alone.

And with over Rs. 81 Arba collected so far, that promise is bigger than ever.

But here’s the truth: while SSF has grown impressively on paper, it hasn’t yet reached the people who need it most. The informal worker in Bhairahawa, the self-employed mechanic in Surkhet, the teacher in a private school in Janakpur, many of them are still outside the safety net.

Meanwhile, the very people we call "migrant laborers", the ones who left their homes, their families, and often their dreams behind, are showing us what belief in the system looks like. They’re contributing. They’re participating. They’re trusting.

So, the next step is clear.

If SSF can work for over 13 lakh Nepalis abroad, it can work for every worker in Nepal,  with the right outreach, better systems, and a renewed commitment to inclusion, transparency, and simplicity.

Because social security shouldn't just be a privilege for a few.
It should be a basic right for everyone who works, contributes, and dreams of a safer tomorrow.

The money is there.
The structure is ready.
Now it’s time to make SSF truly work for all of us.

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• Social Security Fund Now Covers Children & New SSF Updates
• Nepal’s Social Security Fund (SSF): Registration, Contribution & Benefits Explained (2025)
• Provident Fund, Gratuity & Social Security in Nepal