SSF Guide for the Self-Employed (shop owners, businesses, freelancers)
Short answer:
If you run your own shop or business or work as a freelancer, you can choose your own contribution base — from the minimum wage up to 3 times that amount — and contribute 31% of it. The bigger the base, the bigger the pension. For people with no employer, SSF is the only organized social security available.
✨ Highlights
- ✔Choose your base from the minimum wage up to 3×; contribute 31%.
- ✔The bigger the base, the bigger the pension fund.
- ✔More is allocated to insurance than the formal sector (medical 2.4%, family 1.8%).
- ✔Your SSN is the same for life — reuse it when moving from a job to self-employment.
Table of contents
- Contribution and allocation
- How big a base should you choose? (Strategy)
- Common mistakes
Contribution and allocation
Choose your own base amount — from the minimum basic wage up to a maximum of 3 times that. You contribute 31% of the chosen base every month (Procedure 2079, section 5b).
| Scheme | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Medical treatment, health, and maternity | 2.4% |
| Accident and disability | 0.80% |
| Dependent family | 1.80% |
| Old age (at least 16% into the pension scheme) | 26% |
💡 Compared with the formal sector, more is allocated to treatment (2.4% vs 1.20%) and family protection (1.80% vs 0.67%) — because the self-employed have no employer-provided safety net.
[Example]How big a base should you choose? (Strategy)
- Small base = lower monthly burden, but a smaller pension — start here if your business is unstable
- Large base (3×) = a pension fund 3 times bigger — choose this if your income is stable
- You can raise or lower the base later — compare both scenarios in the Financial Planner
- With 180 months (15 years) of contributions you get a lifelong pension from age 60 — starting late pushes that eligibility further away
[Common mistakes]Common mistakes
- Contributing irregularly — the medical treatment benefit only applies if you have contributed '3 of the last 6 months' regularly
- Assuming business registration and SSF listing are the same thing — SSF requires a separate registration
- Not reusing your old SSN when moving from a job to self-employment — your SSN is the same for life, never create a new one
📺 Related videos
Related FAQs
📜 Official sources
- अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रका श्रमिक र स्वरोजगारमा रहेका व्यक्तिको योजना सञ्चालन कार्यविधि, २०७९ (१म संशोधनसहित) (२०७९।०८।२५)
For legal purposes always consult the original documents and latest amendments. Rates and limits can change through amendments.
This content is for educational purposes; final approval and benefits follow official SSF rules. Found outdated information? Report it here.