When A Man Dies Does His Pension Go To His Wife?
When A Man Dies Does His Pension Go To His Wife?
YES. Pension is payable to the beneficiaries of the deceased member or, if there are no beneficiaries, to the member’s estate. Death benefits are provided when a member passes away while still employed or within five years of retiring. The GEPF also offers annuities to eligible surviving spouses or orphans of members who die while on duty or after retirement.
Death benefits are provided when a member dies while still in service or within five years of retiring. The GEPF also offers annuities to qualifying surviving spouses or orphans of members who pass away, whether during their employment or after retirement.
If a member dies while in service, the benefit is based on their period of pensionable service and goes to their beneficiaries, or the member’s estate if there are no designated beneficiaries.
For those who die after becoming pensioners, their retirement or discharge annuities are guaranteed for five years. If they pass away during this period, their beneficiaries receive the remaining balance of the five-year annuity payments, excluding the annual supplement, in a one-time cash lump sum.
What Happens When a GEPF Pensioner Dies
When a GEPF pensioner passes away, the GEPF offers support for funeral expenses through funeral benefits. If the pensioner dies within five years of retirement or discharge, the GEPF will provide the remaining balance of their retirement or discharge annuities to the designated beneficiaries.
Moreover, if the pensioner has a surviving spouse, life partner, or orphaned children, they will qualify for monthly pension benefits.
GEPF Spouse Annuity
The GEPF Spouse Annuity is a financial benefit designed for the spouse or eligible life partner of a member of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) in South Africa. Its purpose is to offer financial assistance following the member’s death.
This annuity is disbursed to the surviving spouse or eligible life partner, and in cases where there are multiple eligible spouses, the annuity will be divided equally among them. The spouse’s annuity is a monthly pension that continues for life and is not impacted by any future remarriage.
How Can Your Wife Access the Annuity At GEPF?
When a pensioner passes away, the surviving spouse needs to complete the Application for Spouse Pension Z143 form and submit it to the GEPF along with the following documents:
- A certified copy (not older than six months) of their green bar-coded identity document.
- A certified copy (not older than six months) of the pensioner’s death certificate.
- A certified copy (not older than six months) of the pensioner’s green bar-coded identity document or passport, along with confirmation of death from the Department of Home Affairs.
- A certified copy of the marriage certificate—this can be religious, customary, or civil, as issued by Home Affairs.
- Alternatively, the spouse can provide proof of marriage through a certified copy of a customary union certificate, Hindu certificate, or lobola affidavit, along with confirmation of the customary union from representatives of both families.
Once these documents are submitted, the GEPF will process the application for the spouse annuity.
How To Access GEPF Funeral Benefit
The GEPF accepts claims for funeral benefits from the deceased pensioner’s spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, siblings, or the executor of the estate. Please note that payments cannot be made directly to a funeral undertaker.
- To claim the funeral benefit, the person making the claim must provide the following documents:
- A completed Funeral Benefit Claim Z300 form.
- An original certified copy of the death certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs, dated within the last six months.
- A certified copy (not older than six months) of their green bar-coded identity document, passport, or birth certificate. For minor children, a copy of the deceased’s birth certificate may be required.
- An original certified copy (not older than six months) of the claimant’s green bar-coded identity document or passport.
- A completed Banking Particulars Z894 form. If this form is not provided, the benefit will be paid via the Post Office.
If the funeral benefit is to be paid into a bank account, the claim should be mailed or hand-delivered to the GEPF. If the payment is going to be sent to the Post Office, the claim can be faxed or emailed.
GEPF Contact Details
Toll-free number: 08 00 117 669
Fax: 012 326 2507
enquiries@gepf.co.za
Postal Address
GEPF Private Bag X63,
Pretoria,
0001
Visit the official website of GEPF for more information. I hope the provided information is helpful, share your thoughts below in the comment section.