Death Benefit
How are death benefits distributed?
It is important to know that there are very strict guidelines about whom the benefit will be paid to.
When allocating your death benefit, the Trustees will consider your beneficiaries and the requirements of the Pension Funds Act.
Your beneficiaries can be divided into two groups:
Dependants |
Dependants include legal and financial dependants:
Legal dependants - those people whom you have a legal duty to support, e.g. spouses, life partners, children (of any age) including unborn or posthumous children, children born outside of marriage and adopted children, whether you are on good terms with them or not. Financial dependants – those people whom you do not necessarily have a legal duty to support but whom are financially dependent on you for their day-to-day support and survival e.g. your parents, grandparents, in-laws (including non-family members). |
Nominees |
Nominees are people you nominate, who are not financially dependent on you. |
How and to whom will my death benefit be distributed?
Because the Trustees are legally obliged to use their discretion, and ensure that all your financial dependants are taken care of, it is important that you provide them with as much information as possible.
Active Members | Click here to find out how to capture your Beneficiaries on HR Connect |
Disability Members | Click here for the Nomination of Beneficiary Form |
Deferred Members | Click here for the Nomination of Beneficiary Form |
It is important to note that death benefits from the Fund do not form part of your estate and, consequently, cannot be distributed in terms of your last will and testament.
If you have no dependents, you still need to complete your beneficiary nomination. Although you will not list any dependents, you should indicate who your nominated beneficiaries are, i.e. the person or people whom you would like to nominate as beneficiaries to share in your death benefit, but who are not legal or factual dependents. Only people nominated can be considered as nominated beneficiaries. However, any deficit in your estate has to be settled before the death benefit can be paid out to your nominees.
If the Trustees do not become aware of (or cannot trace) any dependents within 12 months of your death and you have also not nominated a beneficiary, your benefit will be paid to your estate.