E/C.12/GC/19 page 8 4. Accessibility (a) Coverage 23. All persons should be covered by the social security system, especially individuals belonging to the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, without discrimination on any of the grounds prohibited under article 2, paragraph 2, of the Covenant. In order to ensure universal coverage, non-contributory schemes will be necessary. (b) Eligibility 24. Qualifying conditions for benefits must be reasonable, proportionate and transparent. The withdrawal, reduction or suspension of benefits should be circumscribed, based on grounds that are reasonable, subject to due process, and provided for in national law.19 (c) Affordability 25. If a social security scheme requires contributions, those contributions should be stipulated in advance. The direct and indirect costs and charges associated with making contributions must be affordable for all, and must not compromise the realization of other Covenant rights. (d) Participation and information 26. Beneficiaries of social security schemes must be able to participate in the administration of the social security system.20 The system should be established under national law and ensure the right of individuals and organizations to seek, receive and impart information on all social security entitlements in a clear and transparent manner. (e) Physical access 27. Benefits should be provided in a timely manner and beneficiaries should have physical access to the social security services in order to access benefits and information, and make contributions where relevant. Particular attention should be paid in this regard to persons with 19 The Committee notes that, under ILO Convention No. 168 (1988) on Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment, such action can only be taken in certain circumstances: absence from the territory of the State; a competent authority has determined that the person concerned deliberately contributed to their own dismissal or left employment voluntarily without just cause; during the period a person stops work due to a labour dispute; the person has attempted to obtain or has obtained benefits fraudulently; the person has failed without just cause to use the facilities available for placement, vocational guidance, training, retraining or redeployment in suitable work; or the person is in receipt of another income maintenance benefit provided for in the legislation of the relevant State, except a family benefit, provided that the part of the benefit which is suspended does not exceed that other benefit. 20 Articles 71 and 72 of ILO Convention 102 (1952) on Social Security (Minimum Standards) set out similar requirements.