Taiwan does not have an extensive social security system, and people rely heavily on family support for their welfare.

The Labor Insurance Program provides retirement, disability and survivors' pensions in the form of a lump sum. Although there is now an unemployment insurance scheme, only a small proportion of workers who become unemployed qualify for this scheme.

A comprehensive national health insurance scheme was introduced in 1995, providing medical coverage for all employees and the non-employed. Employees contribute 1.3% of their earnings and employers 4.6% of their payroll to the scheme.

Apart from health benefits, most foreign nationals do not qualify for social insurance payments in Taiwan.