• Social Security & Housing Finance Corporation
  • 61 Ecowas Ave, Banjul
  • (+220) 422-2271

REGISTRATION

Member registration in 9 steps

Our registration process may look quite complicated, but if you know what to do and when to do it you should find it easy. Our 9-step guide will show you why, what, when and how to complete your registration into one of our schemes.

Why should you register?

A sure way of securing yourselves and your families and guaranteeing income after retirement, or in the event of any of the specified contingencies such as death, redundancy, ill-health is by registering with one of our schemes.

It is the statutory right of every employee to whom the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) Act applies to register with the relevant social security scheme. Even where the SSHFC Act does not apply to you as an employer or employee you still have the option of voluntary registration with the appropriate scheme.

Qualifying conditions

Are you already registered under the Federated Pension Scheme or the National Provident Fund, then you do not have to register again with SSHFC, unless you are a civil servant, local government authority employee, retiree still on contract an apprentice or trainee, then you will need to complete the standard relevant form for membership? Membership to the IICF is not optional so long as the institution you work for is registrable under either the FPS or NPF. If however you do not qualify for membership under the FPS and NPF because you are a Civil Servants, Local Government Authority employees, retirees still being engaged, you can still be a member of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund. All you need to do is to complete the registration ICF2 form. Am I disqualified because I have two different employers? The answer is No. You will be eligible for our Dual membership which allows an employee who is employed by two or more different establishments to still register. In this case, each employer will pay to the Social Security Fund, 15% of the basic salary or wages of their employee for NPF membership and 15% of gross earnings (basic and fixed allowances) for FPS membership.

Scheme Registration Process

If you are new to SSHFC�s schemes, you don�t have to worry, this simple 9 step guide should help you complete the relevant process from start to finish, showing you what to do and when to do it.

All of the 3 SSHFC schemes, Federated Pension Scheme (FPS), National Provident Fund (NPF) or Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF) follow the same membership registration processes. Membership to any of these schemes requires that applicants complete standard prescribed forms. If the applicant is applying to be a member institution then an Employer Registration form should be completed. If, however an employee is applying to be a member of the scheme then an Employee Registration form will be filled.

EMPLOYER REGISTRATION

The 9 steps below best describe the various stages for Employer registration:

NO. STEPS ESTIMATED TIME
1. The SSHFC Compliance Inspector will visit employers to provide a good overview about the scheme 30 mins to 1 hour
2. All employers covered by the Act must complete the relevant registration forms:
  1. NFP1 to join the Federated Pension Scheme,
  2. NPF1 to join the National Provident Fund,
  3. ICF1 to join the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund.
And must provide a valid Business Registration Certificate.
A maximum of 15 mins
3. The SSHFC Compliance Inspector will collect the completed registration form from the employer and submit it to relevant Documentation and Data Processing Units. Upon completion of form or upon inspectors� return from field
4. The Documentation Supervisor will verify the completed registration form for correctness and completeness. A maximum of 15 mins
5. The Data Entry Unit will key the employers� information into the SSHFC database. A maximum of 15 mins
6. The Data Entry Supervisor will verify the accuracy of the employer information keyed into SSHFC database A maximum of 15 mins
7. An employer registration number will be issued to member institutions once they have successfully completed the registration process. Generated immediately after completion of registration process
8. The inspectors will deliver the social security numbers or we will formally write to employers.  
9. The Data Entry Unit will scan and fie the Employer registration form and attached documentation. A maximum of 15 mins

EMPLOYEE REGISTRATION

The 9 steps below best describe the various stages for Employee registration:

NO. STEPS ESTIMATED TIME
1. The SSHFC Compliance Inspector will have a one-to-one meeting with the interested employee or hold a group sensitization session to provide a good overview about the scheme Between 30 mins and one hour
2. Interested employee will complete the relevant registration forms:
  1. SS1 to join the Federated Pension Scheme,
  2. NPF2 to join the National Provident Fund,
  3. ICF2/ICF2A to join the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund.
  4. And must provide one recent passport size photograph and a copy of either your Birth Certificate or National Identity Card.
A maximum of 15 mins
3. The SSHFC Compliance Inspector will ensure the employers endorse the completed registration form and submit it to relevant the Documentation and Data Processing Unit. A maximum of 15 mins
4. The Documentation and Data Processing Unit will verify the completed registration form for correctness and completeness. A maximum of 15 mins
5. The Data Entry Supervisor will key the employees� information into the SSHFC database. A maximum of 15 mins
6. The Data Entry Unit will verify the accuracy of the employee information keyed into SSHFC database A maximum of 15 mins
7. The Data Entry Unit will generate a Social Security number and prepare the Employee�s Social Security Membership Card. N.B. Once you register with the fund you are assigned a number. This number is your account number with SSHFC. For all your enquiries, you must quote your Social Security number to facilitate transaction with the scheme/fund. A maximum of 15 mins
8. The Employee�s Membership Card handed over to the Employer by the Compliance Inspector for delivery to the Employee. For scheme members who are not in employment at the time it can be collected by the Employee from the reception desk.  
9. The Data Entry Unit will scan and file the Employee�s registration form and attached documentation. A maximum of 15 mins

How to complete the registration forms

An accurately completed registration form is one where all the fields have been properly completed with all the correct information, signed and endorsed by an employer. All registration forms must be accompanied with documentary evidence of identity (i.e. birth certificate or National Identity Card) and a passport size photo. If any required information or documents are missing the registration form will not be processed.

You will find the key information required for different workplace schemes registration forms here:

  1. Federated Pension Scheme (FPS)
  2. National Provident Fund (NPF)
  3. Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF)

Federated Pension Scheme (FPS)

The registration into the FPS is done on the prescribed employer Form. The information required to be filled in the form include:

  • Name Registering applicants should give their names as they are written on their birth certificates or National Identity Card.
  • Date employment commenced Registering members must state the dates on which they commence work/employment. Your membership effectively starts on that date. Do not submit an inaccurate date. In the case where you are engaged as an apprentice before your 18th birthday or you are taken on as a trainee before formal employment then your admission date should be the date you attain the age of 18 years or the date of formal employment.
  • Permanent address You should indicate your current address and inform SSHFC if there is a change of address or residence.
  • Date of admission into the scheme Your admission to a scheme should be your actual date of employment with your employer or the you attain 18 years of age.
  • Submit genuine date of birth It is very important to submit birth documents to authenticate dates of birth so as to facilitate the processing of membership cards. Unsupported dates of birth will delay registration of members as well as payment of benefits at the time of claim as all birth dates must be verified against valid identification documents before benefits are paid.
  • Exact salary Member contributions to the scheme are based on the level of salary payable to individual member. Therefore, it is important for members to state their exact salary in order to give SSHFC a clue as to how much contributions are to be received on their behalf.
  • Marital status Registering applicants should indicate whether they are single or married.
  • Nominees of a member Dependents of a member such as children, spouses or in their absence, parents and siblings should be listed as nominees. The addresses and ages of the various nominees should be clearly inserted and apportionment of percentages to each beneficiary indicated. This list must be updated as and when circumstances change. If you need to change your list, contact SSHFC for advice or alternatively fill and submit a nominee variation form (NPF4)
  • Signatures To authenticate the information on the registration form, the employer and employee are required to sign it.

Downloadable Forms

National Provident Fund (NPF)

The registration into the NPF is done on the prescribed NPF 2 Form. The information required to be filled in the form include:

  • Name Registering applicants should give their names as they are written on their birth certificates or National Identity Card.
  • Date employment commenced Registering members must state the dates on which they commence work/employment. Your membership effectively starts on that date. Do not submit an inaccurate date. In the case where you are engaged as an apprentice before your 18th birthday or you are taken on as a trainee before formal employment then your admission date should be the date you attain the age of 18 years or the date of formal employment.
  • Permanent address You should indicate your current address and inform SSHFC if there is a change of address or residence.
  • Date of admission into the scheme Your admission to a scheme should be your actual date of employment with your employer or the you attain 18 years of age.
  • Submit genuine date of birth It is very important to submit birth documents to authenticate dates of birth so as to facilitate the processing of membership cards. Unsupported dates of birth will delay registration of members as well as payment of benefits at the time of claim as all birth dates must be verified against valid identification documents before benefits are paid.
  • Exact salary Member contributions to the scheme are based on the level of salary payable to individual member. Therefore, it is important for members to state their exact salary in order to give SSHFC a clue as to how much contributions are to be received on their behalf.
  • Marital status Registering applicants should indicate whether they are single or married.
  • Nominees of a member Dependents of a member such as children, spouses or in their absence, parents and siblings should be listed as nominees. The addresses and ages of the various nominees should be clearly inserted and apportionment of percentages to each beneficiary indicated. This list must be updated as and when circumstances change. If you need to change your list, contact SSHFC for advice or alternatively fill and submit a nominee variation form (NPF4)
  • Signatures To authenticate the information on the registration form, the employer and employee are required to sign it.

Downloadable Forms

Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF)

The registration into the IICF is done on the prescribed ICF 2 Form. The information required to be filled in the form include;

  • Ministry /Department Registering applicants should indicate the ministry or department they work for.
  • Full Name of Workman- Registering applicants should give their names as they are written on their birth certificates or National Identity Card.
  • Workman Payroll Number Your payroll number is important to your identification especially in the civil service and seasonal employing organisations where employment and terminations is rampant.
  • Permanent address You should indicate your current address and inform SSHFC if there is a change of address or residence.
  • Occupation Registering applicants should indicate their profession or trade.
  • Nationality You must state your country of birth.
  • Sex (Gender) Indicate your gender whether you are male or female.
  • Marital status Registering applicants should indicate whether they are single or married.
  • Date of birth It is very important to submit birth documents to authenticate dates of birth so as to facilitate the processing of membership cards. Undocumented dates of birth will delay payment of benefits at time of claim as all birth dates must be documented before benefits are paid.
  • Date of employment Registering members must state the dates on which they commence work/employment. Your membership effectively starts on that date. Do not submit an inaccurate date.
  • Gross Monthly Earnings Member contributions to the scheme are based on the level of salary payable to individual member. Therefore, it is important for members to state their exact salary in order to give SSHFC a clue as to how much contributions are to be received on their behalf.
  • Date of admission into the scheme Your admission to a scheme should be your actual date of employment with your employers.
  • Workman�s Nominees -Dependents of a member such as children, spouses or in their absence, parents and siblings should be listed as nominees. The addresses and ages of the various nominees should be clearly inserted and apportionment of percentages to each beneficiary indicated. This list must be updated as and when circumstances change. If you need to change your list, contact SSHFC for advice or alternatively fill and submit a nominee variation form.
  • Signatures To authenticate the information on the registration form, the employer and the workman are required to sign it. Where the literacy levels of the workman are limited a their thumbprint is acceptable.

Downloadable Forms