Do I have to buy social security all the time?

Social security must be bought. When a worker goes to an employer for employment, both the worker and the employer shall pay, and the social insurance premium that the worker should pay shall be withheld and remitted by the employer; Workers who are not employed by the employing unit may pay the basic old-age insurance premium and basic medical insurance premium directly to the social insurance premium collection agency.

legal ground

Article 60 of People's Republic of China (PRC) Social Insurance Law

The employing unit shall declare itself and pay social insurance premiums in full and on time, and shall not postpone or reduce the payment except for legal reasons such as force majeure. The social insurance premiums that employees should pay shall be withheld and remitted by the employer, and the employer shall inform me of the details of paying social insurance premiums on a monthly basis.

Individual industrial and commercial households without employees, part-time employees who have not participated in social insurance in the employing units and other flexible employees can pay social insurance premiums directly to the social insurance premium collection agencies.