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Tanzania
Public Service Social Security Fund Act
Chapter 371
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette 6 on 9 February 2018
- Assented to on 8 February 2018
- Commenced on 1 July 2018 by Public Service Social Security Fund (Date of Commencement) Notice, 2018
- [This is the version of this document from 1 July 2025.]
- [Note: This legislation was revised and consolidated as at 31 July 2002 and 30 November 2019 by the Attorney General's Office, in compliance with the Laws Revision Act No. 7 of 1994, the Revised Laws and Annual Revision Act (Chapter 356 (R.L.)), and the Interpretation of Laws and General Clauses Act No. 30 of 1972. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for TANZLII.]
- [Amended by Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 5) Act, 2021 (Act 9 of 2021) on 11 October 2021]
- [Amended by Social Security Laws (Amendments) Act, 2024 (Act 9 of 2024) on 11 October 2024]
- [Amended by Finance Act, 2025 (Act 11 of 2025) on 1 July 2025]
Part I – Preliminary provisions
1. Short title
2. Application
This Act shall apply in Mainland Tanzania in respect of all employers and employees in the Public Service.3. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—“actuary” means a person trained to understand risks and probabilities and to apply such skills to financial problems involving uncertain future events and who is accredited by a professional body;[definition of "actuary" substituted by section 36(c) of Act 9 of 2024]“actuarial valuation” means valuation of assets and liabilities of a scheme of the Fund made by an actuary;“actuarial valuation report” means a report prepared by an actuary who effected actuarial valuation in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Division;“administration expenses” means all costs incidental or in relation to registration of members, collection of members’ contributions and disbursement of members’ benefits;“annual pensionable emoluments” means the emoluments which is taken for the purposes of computing any pension granted to the member under this Act if he had retired from the Service in circumstances described in this Act;“Bank” means the Bank of Tanzania established under the Bank of Tanzania Act;[Cap. 197]“benefit” means a social security benefit payable under this Act;“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Public Service Social Security Fund established by section 8;“child” includes a step-child, a child born out of wedlock and an adopted child;“commuted pension” means the lump sum payment payable to a member pursuant to section 30;“compulsory retirement age” means the age referred to in section 25, upon the attainment of which a member shall retire;“constitutional office” means an office which is established by or under the Constitution of the United Republic; of Tanzania, 1977[Cap. 2]“contract terms” in relation to employment, means the terms whereby a person is employed on contract for a period of service with an eligibility for payment of a sum of money upon satisfactory completion of that period of service;“dependant” in relation to a deceased member, means—(a)where the deceased member was a male, his widow or if he was married to two or more wives, his widows;(b)where the deceased member was a female, the husband of such deceased member;(c)every child of the deceased member who was wholly or substantially dependent upon the deceased member’s income for his livelihood immediately preceding the death of the deceased member; or(d)the immediate parents of the deceased member, who satisfies the deceased member’s employer that they were wholly or substantially depend upon the deceased member’s income for their livelihood;“Director General” means the Director General of the Public Service Social Security Fund appointed under section 15;“Division” means the division responsible for social security within the ministry responsible for social security matters;“effective date” means the date declared as such by the Minister for commencement of this Act upon the expiration of transition period;“employee” means a person employed in the Public Service;“employee's contribution” means that portion of a statutory contribution referred to under section 18(2) to be the employee's contribution;[definition of "employee's contribution" amended by section 36(b) of Act 9 of 2024]“employer” means a person or organization in the public service, with whom an employee entered into a contract of service and who is responsible for the payment of salaries of such employee;“employer's contribution” means a portion of statutory contribution referred to under section 18(2) to be the employer's contribution;[definition of "employer's contribution" amended by section 36(b) of Act 9 of 2024]“Fund” means the Public Service Social Security Fund established by section 6;“former Funds” means the Public Service Pension Fund, GEPF Retirement Benefit Fund, the PPF Pensions Fund and the LAPF Pension Fund;“former schemes” means the Public Service Pension Scheme, GEPF Retirement Benefit Scheme, the PPF Pensions Scheme and the LAPF Pension Scheme;“incapable of work” means in relation to any person, incapacity for work by reason of some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement, and also includes references to any person deemed to be so incapable under this Act;“member” means an employee who is registered by the Scheme under this Act;“Minister” means the Minister responsible for social security matters;“month” has the meaning ascribed to it under the Interpretation of Laws Act;[Cap. 1]“National Social Security Fund” means the Fund established under National Social Security Fund Act;[Cap. 50]“paid” means paid in money or money’s worth, and where it has reference to a date of payment means the date on which the payment was made in cash, or as the case may be, the bills of exchange or promissory note was met;“pensionable emoluments” means the salary specified to be used in calculating pension or related benefits;“Public Service” has the meaning ascribed to it by the Public Service Act and includes judicial service, parliamentary service, police force and prisons service and service in the specified corporations;[Cap. 298]“qualifying pensionable service” means—(a)any period of service rendered by a member since his becoming a member of the scheme and includes periods of absence from duty or leave with not less than half salary; and(b)any period of service rendered by a member immediately prior to his becoming a member of the scheme during which he was employed by a Government on contract terms or on other than temporary terms daily paid or casual basis and during which he was governed by any employees’ terminal benefits scheme under which the terminal benefit or retirement took the form of payment of a pension, and includes any periods of absence from duty or leave with not less than half salary;“qualifying period” means service which may be taken into account in determining whether or not that a member is eligible by length of service for a pension or gratuity;“reserve account” [definition of "reserve account" deleted by section 36(a) of Act 9 of 2024]“salary” means gross salary excluding bonus, commission, cost of living allowance, overtime payments, directors’ fees or any other additional emolument of a member payable upon rendering service under the contract of service;“Scheme” means the Public Service Social Security Scheme established by section 4;“Service” means the service in the Public Service;“Service of Tanganyika” means Service in a capacity under the Government of Tanganyika or under the then East African Community before the 1st day of July, 1977 on permanent and pensionable terms under the General Fund Service and being a citizen of Tanganyika;“totalization of periods of contribution” means the totalization of period of contribution and benefits provided for under section 74;“transition period” means the period referred to under section 86;“trustee” means a member of the Board including the Chairman;“voluntary retirement age” means the age referred to in section 25, from which age a member may retire before attaining compulsory retirement age; and“year” means a period of consecutive twelve months.Part II – The Scheme
[heading amended by section 37 of Act 9 of 2024]4. Establishment of Scheme
There is hereby established a Scheme to be known as the Public Service Social Security Scheme.5. Composition of Scheme
Part III – The public service social security fund
6. Establishment of Fund
7. Objectives of Fund
Objectives of the Fund shall be to—Part IV – The Board of Trustees of the Fund
8. Establishment of Board
9. Functions of Board
Functions of the Board shall be to—10. Proceedings of Board
11. Management of Fund
The Board shall be responsible for the administration and management of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Social Security Act and any guidelines and directives as may be issued pursuant the Social Security Act and other relevant written laws for better regulation and monitoring of the activities of the Fund.[Cap. 135]12. Committees of Board
13. Delegation of powers of Board
14. Remuneration and allowances of Board Members
The Members of the Board shall be entitled to such fees and allowances for expenses or any other costs incidental to their responsibilities as the Minister may, in consultation with relevant authorities, determine.15. Appointment of Director General
16. Other staff of Fund
Part V – Registration and contributions
[heading substituted by section 39 of Act 9 of 2024]17. Registration
18. Contributions
19. Additional contributions for delayed remittance of contributions by employer
20. Treating unremitted contributions as paid
Where the Director General is satisfied that an employee’s contribution has been deducted from his earnings, but the employer has failed to remit the contribution together with the paid employer’s contribution to the Fund, he shall treat the unremitted contributions as wholly or partially paid for the purposes of any claim to the payment of benefits, provided that this shall be without prejudice to any action to recover the amount due from the employer.21. Protection of contributions
22. Refund of excess contributions
Any monies paid to the Fund in excess of the amount for which any employer is liable to pay in respect of an employee or in excess of the contribution payable for a contribution period may be refunded to the employer, employee or both, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board may determine.23. Contribution history
The Board shall establish and maintain for each member a contribution history to the Fund in respect of such member and the Director General may, upon request, allow such member to access his contribution history.[section 23 substituted by section 43 of Act 9 of 2024]24. ***
[section 24 repealed by section 44 of Act 9 of 2024]Part VI – Benefits under the scheme
25. Retirement age
26. Qualifying conditions
27. Special lump sum
A member who—28. Rights to benefits
29. Benefits payable
30. Rates of retirement pension
A member who has attained the age of retirement and has contributed to the Fund for the period of not less than one hundred and eighty months shall be entitled to a full pension constituted of a commuted pension and a monthly pension calculated and payable in accordance with the formula prescribed in the regulations made by the Minister pursuant to section 27 of the Social Security Act.[Cap. 135]31. Refund of contributions due to emigration
A member who proves to the satisfaction of the Director General that—32. Maternity benefits
33. Invalidity benefit
An invalidity benefit granted under this Act shall be payable to a member who is recommended by competent authority that by reason of physical or mental disablement cannot perform his duties:Provided that, the cause of his disability is not related to occupational diseases contracted out of, or in the course of the members’ employment.34. Rate of invalidity pension
The rate of invalidity pension and duration of payment of invalidity pension shall be as prescribed in the regulations.35. Unemployment benefits
36. Death gratuity
37. Survivors benefits
38. Basis and duration of survivors’ benefit
Survivors benefit shall be payable on the basis and duration to be prescribed by the Minister in the regulations.39. Cessation of payment of pension
40. Pensions, gratuity and allowances for persons holding certain public offices
41. Benefits conferred on Chief Justice
42. Collateral for home mortgage
A member may use part of his benefit entitlements as collateral for home mortgage in accordance with regulations made under section 40 of the Social Security Act.[Cap. 135]43. Delayed payment of benefits
44. Restriction on double benefits
A person being a member shall not be entitled at any time to receive more than one benefit and in the event of a member qualifying for more than one benefit at the same time, the Board may in its discretion approve or seek the opinion of a member so qualified as to which one of the benefit is suitable to a member and the decision of the Board shall be final:Provided that, the benefit to be granted shall be limited to an amount not exceeding the aggregate of his pensionable emoluments.45. Pension when serving sentence
46. President may exempt from certain conditions
47. Prohibition on cession and attachment of benefits
48. ***
[section 48 repealed by section 47 of Act 9 of 2024]Part VII – Financial provisions
49. Sources of funds
50. Fund to be held by Board
51. Annual budget estimates
52. Supplementary budget
53. Investment of monies of Fund
54. Annual accounts and audit
55. ***
[section 55 repealed by section 50 of Act 9 of 2024]56. Exemption from tax
57. Actuarial valuation report
58. Restoration of funding position of Fund
Where an actuarial valuation of the Fund reveals that the Fund is not in a sound funding position, the Board shall, after having considered recommendations by the actuary who performed the valuation, and upon approval by the Minister, implement the recommendation or arrangement aimed at restoring the Fund to a sound funding position.[section 58 substituted by section 51 of Act 9 of 2024]59. Bank account of Fund
Subject to the requirements of any other written law, the Fund shall, and upon approval of the Board, open and maintain a bank account into which all payments and deposits shall be made.[section 59 substituted by section 52 of Act 9 of 2024]60. Government guarantee
61. Reports
Part VIII – Legal proceedings, offences and penalties
62. Contributions to be debt to Board
63. Certificates as evidence
A copy of entry in the accounts of the Fund or other extract from the record of the Fund shall, when certified by the Director General or any other member nominated by the Board in that behalf in writing under the seal of the Board, be received in all courts as prima facie evidence of the truth of the contents therein and of the debt due to the Fund by any person.64. Summary recovery
65. Joinder of cases of non-payment of contributions
66. Notice of claim
Subject to the provisions of this Act, and upon finalization of a civil claim, the Director General may issue a written notice of claim to the court for the purpose of realization of property against the employer.67. Priority for payment of contributions
Where the Director General has filed in court a written notice of a claim under section 66—68. Offences and penalties
69. General penalty
A person who contravenes any provision of this Act where no specific penalty is provided, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years or to both.70. Liability for acts of bodies of persons
Where an offence is committed under this Act by an association of persons, whether corporate or unincorporated and such association is found to have committed an offence with the knowledge or connivance of, or is attributable to any act or default on the part of any person or persons in apparent control of the association of persons, such person or persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence.71. Protection for acts done in good faith
Without prejudice to the provisions of section 284A of the Penal Code or section 3 of the Public Officers (Recovery of Debts) Act, no act or thing done or omitted to be done by any trustee or by any member, servant or agent of the Board shall, if done or omitted to be done in good faith in execution or purported execution of his duties as a trustee, member, servant or agent, shall subject that person to any action, liability or demand.[Cap. 16; Cap. 76]72. Suits against Board
Part IX – General provisions
73. Contribution under former schemes
In computing benefits of members, the Scheme shall treat the contributions of such members in the repealed Schemes as if it were contributions made in accordance with this Act.74. Totalisation of periods and benefits
75. Inspectors
76. Powers to make regulations
The Minister may, make regulations prescribing for—Part X – Repeals, savings and transitional provisions
77. Repeal and savings
78. Existing contracts
Subject to the provisions of this Act, all deeds, bonds, agreements, instruments and working arrangements subsisting immediately before the commencement date affecting any of the property transferred shall be of full force and effect against or in favour of the Fund and enforceable as fully and effectually as if the Fund has been named therein or had been a party thereto instead of former schemes.79. Pending disciplinary proceedings
Where immediately before the commencement date—80. Members, pensioners and beneficiaries of former schemes
81. Voluntary schemes
All voluntary schemes and their respective funds, members and beneficiaries which were administered by the former schemes shall be transferred to the Fund and their respective trust deeds shall be deemed to have been entered by the Board.82. Vesting of assets and liabilities
The Fund shall, with effect from the effective date, take over all the assets and liabilities which, immediately before the commencement date were exercisable in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Retirement Benefit Act, the PPF Pensions Fund Act, the GEPF Retirement Benefits Fund Act and the LAPF Pensions Fund Act.[Acts Nos. 2 of 1999; 14 of 1978; 8 of 2013; 9 of 2006]83. Rights and obligations
Powers, rights, privileges, duties or obligations which, immediately before the commencement date were exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Public Service Retirement Benefit Act, the PPF Pensions Fund Act, the GEPF Retirement Benefits Fund Act and the LAPF Pensions Fund Act shall, as from that day, devolve to the Fund.[Acts Nos. 2 of 1999; 14 of 1978; 8 of 2013; 9 of 2006]84. Investments
The Fund shall, with effect from the effective date, take over—85. Pending legal proceedings
86. Transition period
87. Provision regarding employees
The provisions of the Public Service Act shall apply in relation to matters relating to employees of the former schemes.[Cap. 298]Part XI – Consequential amendments
88. Omitted
[Omitted.]89. Omitted
[Omitted.]90. Omitted
[Omitted.]91. Omitted
[Omitted.]92. Omitted
[Omitted.]93. Omitted
[Omitted.]94. Omitted
[Omitted.]95. Omitted
[Omitted.]96. Omitted
[Omitted.]97. Omitted
[Omitted.]98. Omitted
[Omitted.]99. Omitted
[Omitted.]100. Omitted
[Omitted.]101. Omitted
[Omitted.]102. Omitted
[Omitted.]103. Omitted
[Omitted.]104. Omitted
[Omitted.]105. Omitted
[Omitted.]106. Omitted
[Omitted.]107. Omitted
[Omitted.]108. Omitted
[Omitted.]109. Omitted
[Omitted.]110. Omitted
[Omitted.]111. Omitted
[Omitted.]112. Omitted
[Omitted.]113. Omitted
[Omitted.]114. Omitted
[Omitted.]115. Omitted
[Omitted.]116. Omitted
[Omitted.]117. Omitted
[Omitted.]118. Omitted
[Omitted.]119. Omitted
[Omitted.]120. Omitted
[Omitted.]121. Omitted
[Omitted.]122. Omitted
[Omitted.]123. Omitted
[Omitted.]124. Omitted
[Omitted.]125. Omitted
[Omitted.]126. Omitted
[Omitted.]127. Omitted
[Omitted.]History of this document
01 July 2025 this version
Amended by
Finance Act, 2025
11 October 2024
31 December 2023
11 October 2021
01 July 2018
09 February 2018
08 February 2018
Assented to
Subsidiary legislation
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| Government Notice 375 of 2018 |