The Beneficiary's Perception of their Awareness of Delay in Payment in Social Security Benefits in Tanzania

Abstract

The study investigates beneficiaries' perceptions of their awareness of social security benefit delays, the relationship between employers' responsibility and social security benefit delays, and the effects of persistent NSSF bureaucracy on social security benefit delays in Tanzania. An explanatory study design was employed in this study with the use of a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The study included 150 NSSF customers and 5 key informants from employers. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire and interview guide, respectively. This study examined NSSF beneficiaries' perceptions in Tanzania regarding delays in social security benefit payments. It reveals that a substantial proportion of customers attribute delays to employer actions, such as failures in timely contributions and inactivity in following up. The study underscores shared responsibility among customers, employers, and the system. It is concluded that addressing customer views through increased communication, employer engagement, and streamlined processes is critical for improving NSSF system efficiency and customer satisfaction. The study recommended that to improve the efficiency of benefit payments within Tanzania's National Social Security Fund (NSSF), it is advised to increase employer engagement and education, strengthen communication with stakeholders, revise policies to hold employers accountable, streamline bureaucratic processes, modernize operations, and investing in employee training