Payesh
2009; 8: 171-180
Accepted for publication: 10 September 2007
[EPub a head of print-20 Apr. 2009]

Objective(s): To recognize the structure, covering criteria and basic duties of the ministry of welfare and social security in Iran and some selected countries and to choose an appropriate structure for Iran.
Methods: In this observational study, to find a model for Iran, the structure of ministry of welfare and social security in some countries has been studied. Of all the structural aspects, centralization has been chosen to be the axis of this study.
Results: The results of this study showed some differences and some similarities in the structure of welfare and social security in target communities. Similarities: in most countries the basics of duties for reaching goals is the same. The structure is simple, brief and the planning is centralized and the performance is non-centralized. The whole structure of ministry of welfare and social security management is non-centralized. Differences: there are two different methods for analysis of welfare and social security; coverage method and occupational method.
Conclusion: This study showed that the duties that were determined for this ministry are broad and various. It is necessary to cover everybody in the society. To achieve this goal, coverage criteria must be nationality.
The structure should be non-centralized to have a simpler, briefer structure. In this situation the role of government is to plan, assess and determine standards in the higher levels.