Stefanus Nashama
The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) currently holds millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits, a substantial amount that could significantly impact the lives of many former government employees and their families.
Edwin Tjiramba, GIPF’s General Manager of Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement said that despite the entitlement of every staff member from participating employers within Government Offices, Ministries, Agencies, state-owned entities, and Regional and Village Councils to receive pension benefits upon leaving employment, a surprising number have yet to claim what is rightfully theirs.
According to Tjiramba, the Fund guarantees these benefits under its rules, ensuring that they are paid out to members or their beneficiaries once a valid claim, accompanied by all relevant documents, is submitted.
However, these benefits are designated as “unclaimed” if not claimed within five years from the date they become payable.
“Approximately 176 members have yet to claim their benefits from the Fund,” Tjiramba revealed.
This startling statistic underscores the need for former employees or their beneficiaries to take immediate action to claim their entitled funds.
He explained that the process to claim benefits begins at the employer’s Human Resources (HR) department, where necessary personnel files are maintained.
Once the benefit claim forms and supporting documents are completed, they must be submitted to the GIPF for processing.
Tjiramba stressed that the GIPF does not appoint external agencies or consultants to act on its behalf.
He advised members to contact the Fund directly for any information related to their benefits, cautioning them that no fees are payable for services rendered by the GIPF, a contrast to the potential costs when using external consultants.
The unclaimed benefits encompass various forms of support, including Normal Retirement, Early Retirement, Resignation (also applicable to dismissals), Retrenchment, Disability benefit, Ill-Health Retirement, Death, and Funeral benefits.
According to Tjiramba, these benefits are available to members who have left employment and exited the Fund, and he urged eligible individuals to secure their financial futures by claiming the benefits due to them.
The fund continuously engages members and participating employers through various awareness initiatives such as member engagement forums, social media platforms, publications, radio and the GIPF website where it publishes the names of members and beneficiaries.
Tjiramba also encouraged the families of deceased members to contact the office, agency or ministry where they worked while active members and non-active members are advised to contact the GIPF directly.
