Citizens interact with government departments and agencies for public services and goods which lead to a service encounter between a public official and client. Various initiatives and policies have been developed and are being implemented in the public service to adopt a client-centred approach to service delivery. The White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service of 1997, identifies the eight Batho Pele principles which sets the framework for implementation of service quality within the South African public service. Government departments are expected to implement measurable service standards to determine levels of service quality to be met that will define levels of client satisfaction with service provision. The assessment of the service encounter by the client informs perceived levels of satisfaction held. This assessment of service quality by clients is therefore value-laden, subjective and periodic. The study focused on the implementation of measures to create and maintain a clientcentric public service in South Africa that would lead to levels of client satisfaction with service quality. The study assessed the implementation and maintenance of service quality at the Social Security Agency of South African the Eastern Cape. The SASSA is responsible for the disbursement of various social grants to facilitate a quality of life as enshrined by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa, 1996. The focus of the study was linked to beneficiary maintenance and customer care at SASSA. The study included three different sample groups namely the clients, officials engaged in grant administration and different levels of management which included senior management, district and area managers. The findings revealed that the SASSA has implemented numerous new programmes aimed at a client-centric approach to service delivery. Analysis of the findings revealed expectation as well performance gaps which indicated that officials do not comply with the protocols of the agency and the Batho Pele principles. The promised service standards specified within the SASSA Customer Care Charter is not being realised which fundamentally indicate inefficient and ineffective monitoring of compliance with norms and standards. A conclusion drawn therefore is that the human dignity of clients in search of socials assistance who chiefly constitute vulnerable groups is being infringed. Three key service quality dimensions are identified that needs intervention for improved service quality. These dimensions include tangibility, assurance and responsiveness of functional components identified in respect of nine themes.

This dissertation consists of three papers on intergenerational transfers and associated differences between immigrant and U.S. native-born (native) families. The first paper investigates differences in intergenerational transfers between immigrant and native families. The second paper examines the impacts of life events on intergenerational transfers and corresponding differences between immigrant and native families. Lastly, the third paper investigates the impacts of the U.S. Social Security program on intergenerational transfers and associated differences between immigrant and native families.

With the dawn of democracy, the South African social security system was in dire need of change. The right of access to social security was for the first time entrenched as a fundamental right in the 1995 Constitution. Since then, many changes have been effected to the present formal social security system, but these were mostly ad hoc and lacked a comprehensive approach. The past history of the country led to the exclusion of the majority of the population from formal social security protection. The excluded and marginalised had to rely on informal social security measures to provide social protection. This resulted in a system of co-existence between formal and informal social security. Although informal social security is increasingly recognised as part of the social security landscape, the role and importance of informal social security have largely been ignored in all reforms to improve the protective scope of the present social security system. The thesis aims to change this. Informal social security has been denied a rightful place in the South African social security landscape. The thesis recommends a model as to how the divide between formal and informal social security can be bridged. This model will, it is hoped, serve as a baseline for stimulating debate and generating new innovative ideas as to how to improve the present social security system in South Africa. / Jurisprudence / LLD

With the dawn of democracy, the South African social security system was in dire need of change. The right of access to social security was for the first time entrenched as a fundamental right in the 1995 Constitution. Since then, many changes have been effected to the present formal social security system, but these were mostly ad hoc and lacked a comprehensive approach. The past history of the country led to the exclusion of the majority of the population from formal social security protection. The excluded and marginalised had to rely on informal social security measures to provide social protection. This resulted in a system of co-existence between formal and informal social security. Although informal social security is increasingly recognised as part of the social security landscape, the role and importance of informal social security have largely been ignored in all reforms to improve the protective scope of the present social security system. The thesis aims to change this. Informal social security has been denied a rightful place in the South African social security landscape. The thesis recommends a model as to how the divide between formal and informal social security can be bridged. This model will, it is hoped, serve as a baseline for stimulating debate and generating new innovative ideas as to how to improve the present social security system in South Africa. / Jurisprudence / LLD

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:23:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cleber Regian Paganelli.pdf: 1278812 bytes, checksum: cb7354985e297d63bafa31b40f2d14b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-20 / Labor Law and Social Security Law currently represent two autonomous fields of Legal Science, and encompass the idea of protection for the working person, especially the employee under a work contract. Labor Law is responsible for protecting labor rights, whereas Social Security Law includes a significant number of provisions, represented by benefits and services available to the employee whenever he/she is faced with the contingencies which this field of law seeks to cover. The ultimate goal of this study is to analyze the impact of social security benefits on the individual work contract. To this end, we provide a brief overview of labor concepts, especially those regarding the work contract itself. Next, we present a few established social security laws in order to allow for a better comprehension of that which is the essence of this paper, that is, the theoretical and practical implications of social security benefits of Regime Geral de Previdência Social (General Social Security System and Special Social Security) RGPS on the work contract. Among all the benefits currently provided by the RGPS, we have not touched on the issue of pension benefit due to death, neither that of the reclusion aid, as they both involve benefits for the dependents of the insured individual, and therefore do not require debates regarding work contracts. Finally, we were able to establish that the social security benefits have a greater or lesser impact on the work contract, depending on each specific benefit, as they guard against different social risks / Direito do Trabalho e Direito Previdenciário representam na atualidade dois ramos autônomos da Ciência Jurídica, e encerram a ideia de proteção à pessoa que trabalha, em especial àquele trabalhador submetido a um contrato de trabalho subordinado. O Direito do Trabalho é responsável pela garantia de direitos trabalhistas, ao passo que o Direito Previdenciário contém um rol expressivo prestações, representadas por benefícios e serviços que estão à disposição do empregado quando este estiver sujeito às contingências que este ramo do direito objetiva amparar. O propósito último desse estudo é analisar o reflexo dos benefícios previdenciários no contrato individual de trabalho. Para tanto, fez-se uma breve exposição de conceitos trabalhistas, sobretudo no que diz respeito ao próprio contrato de trabalho. Em seguida foram descritos alguns institutos do Direito Previdenciário, a fim de permitir uma melhor compressão daquilo que é a essência dessa obra, qual seja, as implicações teóricas e práticas dos benefícios previdenciários do Regime Geral de Previdência Social RGPS no contrato de trabalho. De todos os benefícios que atualmente o RGPS dispõe, não se tratou acerca da pensão por morte, nem tampouco do auxílio-reclusão, por serem benefícios destinados aos dependentes do segurado e, portanto, não demandam debates frente ao contrato de trabalho. Ao final, foi possível constatar que os benefícios previdenciários impactam em maior ou menor medida no contrato de trabalho, a depender de cada benefício em específico, haja vista que tutelam riscos sociais distintos

After coming into government in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) committed and became a signatory to some of the international, regional and national instruments for human rights and social security such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Section 27(1) (c)), makes specific provision for the promotion and recognition of human rights such as social and economic rights, provision of health, water, shelter and social security. This includes provision for appropriate social assistance to people who are unable to support themselves and their dependants. For human rights to be effectively realised, policies governing the administration of social grants needed to be updated to address all the inequalities of the past and poverty. Before 1994, the formulation and operationalisation of policy in South Africa was characterised by a lack of transparency, while participation and the inclusion of all affected stakeholders was limited. To address this situation, the primary objective of this study was to develop a policymaking framework for the effective implementation of social assistance by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). The study included an assessment of the extent to which the existing policy-making framework for social assistance in South Africa has affected policy implementation within and between SASSA and DSD. To achieve this primary objective, a number of secondary objectives had to be achieved. These included: • To explore and conduct a literature survey on the prevailing theories and models of the existing theoretical framework and principles of the public policy-making process and policy implementation; • To analyse statutory, regulatory requirements and guidelines defining the functionality and relationship between DSD and SASSA in the implementation of the social assistance programme; and • To develop guidelines and propose key recommendations on how DSD and SASSA can improve on policy-making processes to achieve a more effective implementation of the social assistance programme. A case study design was followed for data collection, with SASSA Gauteng region as case study. Data was collected by means of interviews using an interview schedule, and was conducted with both regional and local office staff as units of analysis. The empirical findings emanating from the interviews indicated that, although there is some collaboration between DSD and SASSA during the policy-making processes, there are strong indications that this is not cascaded down to the operational levels for implementation. All of the interview participants agreed that the nature of current policy processes is reactionary to problems facing the South African Government. Participants maintained that there is limited or no consultation between DSD and SASSA before any agenda-setting process to determine the level of commitment and buy-in from stakeholders. Within the policy-making context public participation as defined by the UNDP (1981:5) in Cloete and De Coning (2011:91) entails the creation of opportunities that enable all members of a community and the larger society to actively contribute to and influence the development process and to share in the fruits of development. According to the findings, policy formulation and implementation between DSD and SASSA require people with specific policy formulation, policy analysis and general research skills. Monitoring and effective evaluation of impact and analysis of the policy should also be considered as one of the key areas requiring urgent improvement. The recommendations provided are aimed at assisting both DSD and SASSA, in terms of social assistance, and to add value to the current policy-making, implementation, and service delivery processes. / M Public Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

After coming into government in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) committed and became a signatory to some of the international, regional and national instruments for human rights and social security such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Section 27(1) (c)), makes specific provision for the promotion and recognition of human rights such as social and economic rights, provision of health, water, shelter and social security. This includes provision for appropriate social assistance to people who are unable to support themselves and their dependants. For human rights to be effectively realised, policies governing the administration of social grants needed to be updated to address all the inequalities of the past and poverty. Before 1994, the formulation and operationalisation of policy in South Africa was characterised by a lack of transparency, while participation and the inclusion of all affected stakeholders was limited. To address this situation, the primary objective of this study was to develop a policymaking framework for the effective implementation of social assistance by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). The study included an assessment of the extent to which the existing policy-making framework for social assistance in South Africa has affected policy implementation within and between SASSA and DSD. To achieve this primary objective, a number of secondary objectives had to be achieved. These included: • To explore and conduct a literature survey on the prevailing theories and models of the existing theoretical framework and principles of the public policy-making process and policy implementation; • To analyse statutory, regulatory requirements and guidelines defining the functionality and relationship between DSD and SASSA in the implementation of the social assistance programme; and • To develop guidelines and propose key recommendations on how DSD and SASSA can improve on policy-making processes to achieve a more effective implementation of the social assistance programme. A case study design was followed for data collection, with SASSA Gauteng region as case study. Data was collected by means of interviews using an interview schedule, and was conducted with both regional and local office staff as units of analysis. The empirical findings emanating from the interviews indicated that, although there is some collaboration between DSD and SASSA during the policy-making processes, there are strong indications that this is not cascaded down to the operational levels for implementation. All of the interview participants agreed that the nature of current policy processes is reactionary to problems facing the South African Government. Participants maintained that there is limited or no consultation between DSD and SASSA before any agenda-setting process to determine the level of commitment and buy-in from stakeholders. Within the policy-making context public participation as defined by the UNDP (1981:5) in Cloete and De Coning (2011:91) entails the creation of opportunities that enable all members of a community and the larger society to actively contribute to and influence the development process and to share in the fruits of development. According to the findings, policy formulation and implementation between DSD and SASSA require people with specific policy formulation, policy analysis and general research skills. Monitoring and effective evaluation of impact and analysis of the policy should also be considered as one of the key areas requiring urgent improvement. The recommendations provided are aimed at assisting both DSD and SASSA, in terms of social assistance, and to add value to the current policy-making, implementation, and service delivery processes. / M Public Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The problem of this study is to compare the retirement benefits under the federal Social Security System, as proposed in House Bill 6000, the retirement benefits under the Texas Teachers Retirement System, and the retirement annuities of private insurance companies. Further, the study will compare the survivors benefits under the proposed Social Security amendment and under the Texas Teacher Retirement System. Last, the study will compare the general nature and principles of the proposed Social Security amendment with those of the Texas Teacher Retirement System.

The objectives of this study were twofold. One objective was to analyze the effects of growth in the social security tax, when combined with recent changes in U.S. income tax law, on the distribution of the combined income and social security tax burden during the 1980s. The second objective was to estimate the effects of certain proposals for social security tax reform upon that distribution. The above analyses were performed using simulation techniques applied to the 1984 IRS Individual Tax Model File. The data from this file were used to estimate the income and social security tax liabilities for sample taxpayers under tax law in effect in 1980, 1984 and 1988 and under fourteen proposals for social security reform (under 1988 law). The results indicated that the income tax distribution was almost 25 percent more progressive under 1988 tax law than under 1980 tax law. In contrast, the combined distribution of income and social security taxes was almost 25 percent less progressive under 1988 income and social security tax law relative to 1980. Two types of social security tax reform were analyzed. One type consisted of reforms to the basic social security tax structure, such as removal of the earnings ceiling, provision of exemptions and replacement of the current single tax rate with a two-tiered graduated rate structure. The second type of reform consisted of proposals to expand the theoretical tax base subject to the social security levy. The results suggested that these reforms could generate substantial increases in progressivity in the combined tax distribution. In general, it would appear that changes in the social security tax structure could generate greater improvements in progressivity than expansion of the theoretical tax base, although the greatest improvement was associated with a combination of these two reforms. With regard to horizontal equity, expansion of the theoretical tax base generated the most improvement.

Porovnanie právnej úpravy zabezpečenia v oblasti tehotenstva a materstva v ČR a SR Diplomová práca rozoberá zabezpečenie v tehotenstve a v materstve v dvoch štátoch a to v ČR a SR a následne ho porovnáva. Cieľom tejto diplomovej práce je analyzovať a porovnať súčasnú právnu úpravu zabezpečenia v tehotenstve a materstve z pohľadu práva sociálneho zabezpečenia a s pohľadu pracovného práva v ČR a SR Práca je členená do piatich kapitol. Prvá kapitola popisuje historický vývoj sociálneho zabezpečenia na území ČR a SR so zameraním na zabezpečenie v tehotenstve a materstve. Druhá kapitola nás uvádza do systému sociálneho zabezpečenia stručne definuje jednotlivé systémy, prvky právnych vzťahov a charakterizuje jednotlivé sociálne udalosti ako tehotenstvo, pôrod, materstvo, nezaopatrenosť dieťaťa. Tretia kapitola rozoberá oblasť nemocenského poistenia postupne v ČR a SR. V prvej časti kapitoly popisuje systém nemocenského poistenia v daných krajinách a následne ho porovnáva. Druhá časť kapitoly je venovaná jednotlivým dávkam nemocenského poistenia a ich vzájomnej komparácií. Štvrtá kapitola je zameraná na zabezpečenie v oblasti tehotenstva a materstva v systéme Štátnej sociálnej podpory a porovnaniu jednotlivých dávok, ktorých cieľom je hmotne zabezpečiť rodiny s malými deťmi. Posledná kapitola je venovaná...