Housewives’ Social Security Act: All You Need to Know

The proposed Housewives’ Social Security Act, which aims to provide social security for insured housewives in the form of benefits for improving their health, safety, welfare and wellbeing, was tabled for its first reading in Parliament on July 19.

According to the Bill, the government will set up a scheme known as Housewives' Social Security Scheme for the purpose.

 

Protection from only RM10 per month

Housewives and stay-at-home mums can soon enjoy insurance protection against injuries for as little as RM10 a month.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will manage the Housewives' Social Security Scheme, which will see housewives under 55 eligible for the voluntary insurance scheme. The scheme will also cover housewives under 55 who are permanent residents in Malaysia.

Husbands will need to pay RM120 in advance to provide protection for their wives, which covers a 12-month period. The husband could make the contributions via deductions from their employer and must make contributions until the housewife reaches 55 years old.

A husband who voluntarily signed up for the scheme but failed to contribute could face an RM10,000 fine.

Housewives could also choose to make their own contributions if their husbands elect not to sign up for the scheme. Insured housewives who make the contributions will continue to be protected: 

• In the death of the husband, or 

• In the event of a divorce from the husband, or 

• The husband could not pay contributions due to loss of income or other reasons until the expiry of the contribution period.

If the husband could not pay contributions due to the loss of income or other reasons, he must inform Socso 60 days before his next scheduled contribution.

 

Disability and medical benefits

In this scheme, contributing housewives are entitled to: 

• Medical benefits, 

• Permanent disablement benefits, 

• Constant attendance allowance, 

• Survivor's pension, and 

• Funeral benefits.

The scheme provides a range of medical benefits and compensation payments from RM300 to RM50,000, depending on the severity of the housewives' injuries sustained at home.

For instance, housewives with total permanent disability such as the loss of a hand or foot, severe facial disfigurement, loss of eyesight necessary for work or afflicted by total deafness will receive RM30,000 in compensation.

Socso would also pay out RM300 in compensation to housewives who lose part of their toes. 

There will also be an RM250 monthly allowance for housewives who need constant aid after their injuries, including RM200 per month for dialysis treatment for those who suffer from end-stage renal failure.

The housewife will also be entitled to an RM50,000 maximum compensation for physical rehabilitation.

Socso will also provide a one-off payment of RM2,000 for the families of the deceased housewife.

 

Claims

Claims can only be made if the related incident takes place in Malaysia. The proposed Housewives’ Social Security Act also addresses the problem of fraud or those who deliberately provide misleading details when making claims under the scheme.

Those convicted of the offences could face a maximum two-year jail sentence, a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both. Socso will also set up a tribunal to hear claim applications, and the tribunal's decision cannot be appealed in court.

 

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan tabled the Housewives’ Social Security Act bill. In 2021, he said the scheme would provide protection to about three million housewives in Malaysia.

 

Sources:
The Star
The Edge Markets
Free Malaysia Today