Around 309 beneficiaries yet to claim benefits from GIPF
Approximately 309 members are still to claim their benefits from Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), a statement released this week highlighted.
Such benefits, if not claimed for a period of five years or longer, shall be paid over to the Guardian Fund held at the Master of the High Court, and such beneficiaries shall have no further claim against the GIPF, GIPF Manager: Operation, Anna Hambuda said in a statement.
“Ordinarily, the benefits claiming process commences at the employer’s Human Resources departments as all personnel files are with employers. The completed benefit claim forms and other supporting documents are then submitted to the GIPF. It is critical to note that the Fund can only pay benefits once a claim has been completed, approved, signed off by GIPF participating employers and submitted to the Fund with all relevant supporting documents attached,” she said.
However, according to Hambuda, what causes a delay in benefit payout is when the HR Practitioners and the members fail to complete the relevant benefit claim forms at the time when members exit employment.
“This delays the whole claiming process which leads to members getting frustrated. Once members leave employment, it becomes a challenge to the Fund to trace them in the event of missing relevant information,” she added.
For a member to claim his/her benefits, the following steps should be followed:
1. The member should contact the previous employer’s HR Department.
2. The member should complete the claim form and submit the required supporting
documents.
Hambuda said it is critical to note that GIPF does not have or appoint agencies or consultants to act on its behalf.
“As such, the GIPF does not recommend the use of a consultant to claim their benefits. Members are advised to approach the Fund directly for any fund-related information. In the same vein, members are cautioned that when they are receiving service from GIPF, they are not allowed to pay any fees to anyone as they would when making use of consultants,” she concluded.
