As part of the Corporation’s effort to fast track the payment of benefits to its thousands of beneficiaries, the National Social Security Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) introduced Mobile Money in its payment system. Prior to this, the Corporation collaborated with three mobile Money GSM operators-Lonestar MTN, Orange Money and GN Mobile Money and piloted the use of Mobile Money as a mode of payment in Lofa and Nimba Counties in July & August 2019.
Beneficiaries targeted during the first phase of the pilot included ONLY CSA/GOL pensioners residing in Lofa and Nimba Counties. According to information gathered from the Claims & Benefits Department, the purpose of the exercise was to take NASSCORP services to its beneficiaries, especially those in the rural areas who have stressful experiences of traveling long distances to Monrovia to get their benefits.
In order to participate in the pilot exercise, one must be a beneficiary (direct or survivor) of the NASSCORP/GOL pension program with awards and pension ID card issued after participating in the vetting and validation exercise.
A proxy of a beneficiary wishing to participate in the exercise must present awards letter and pension ID issued to the beneficiary following the vetting and validation exercise. After the pilot exercise, the first payment of benefits through Mobile Money was in September, 2019 covering both GOL and regular NASSCORP pensioners, with 311 persons receiving their benefits. Out of this number, 182 persons were paid via LoneStar MTN, 80 persons through GN Mobile Money, and 49 persons through Orange Money.
The second payment through Mobile Money was done September, 2019 as well with 343 persons receiving their benefits. Out of the total figure, 198 persons were paid through LoneStar MTN, 87 persons via GN Mobile Money, while 58 persons received their benefits through Orange Money.
The Third Payment via Mobile Money was made in November 2019 for regular NASSCORP pensioners. Three Hundred Fifty Persons were paid. Out of the 350 persons, 204 were paid via LoneStar MTN, 88 through GN Mobile Money and 58 persons received their benefits through Orange Money.
Phase two of the Mobile Money Users Recruitment/Registration got underway from November 16 to December 8, 2019, and covered Maryland, River Gee, and Grand Kru Counties, using the same three mobile money GSM operators. During the exercise, 175 persons were processed and placed on payroll.
Thus far, a total of 685 GOL pensioners are being paid via Mobile Money while 92 NASSCORP regular beneficiaries are benefitting from this innovation. According to information gathered from the Claims and Benefits Department, scores of beneficiaries have migrated to the MOBILE MONEY regime, while most of the beneficiaries have expressed delight about the change that has come off the heels of the MOBILE MONEY introduction.
The NASSCORP MOBILE MONEY is making pension injury scheme payments easier and faster for beneficiaries under the schemes, a corporate source has revealed. The source also intimated that this was being done consistent with NASSCORP’s commitment to deliver convenient exceptional services through innovative solutions in bridging income gaps and improving the quality of life for all our beneficiaries.
Liberians across the country are reportedly celebrating NASSCORP MOBILE MONEY innovation, as most, spoken to said the Management of NASSCORP was farsighted to quickly understand their plight by establishing the Mobile MONEY payment platform. The NASSCORP MOBILE MONEY is certainly improving the quality of life of pensioners, something they said, is true to the words of the management of NASSCORP to make the corporation one of the most responsive in the country.
NASSCORP introduced mobile money mode of payment as an opportunity for all beneficiaries to get the payment of their benefits faster and easier, thus avoiding the hassle and long queues associated with normal banking transactions.