Insurance Claim: Old Age Retirement, Survivors Benefits

The Management of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) is highly concerned about the large number of applications for Old age and/or Survivors’ benefits sitting in the Customer Service Center, which cannot be processed.

An application for Old age or Survivors’ benefit cannot be processed because it is incomplete either due to insufficient documentations and/or because the information on the application form differs from the information provided when the member registered with NASSIT.

Old Age / Retirement Benefits

In particular: (a) for Old age/retirement benefits, the member must be Sixty (60) years old (mandatory retirement age) or age between 55-59 years (voluntary retirement age).

The following information/documentation is required for an application for old age (retirement) benefit to be complete:
i) Retirement letter from the employer
ii) Completed Validation form, including record of service for employees on the Accountant General’s payroll as at January 2002
iii) Social security card/number
iv) Earning record or contribution schedules
v) Recent passport picture
vi) Job history form
vii) Application for Retirement Form (SS5A), completed and endorsed by the employer

Survivors Benefit

For survivors (death) benefit, NASSIT should be immediately notified upon the death of the member. The following information/ documentation is required for an application for survivors benefit to be complete.

i) Death certificate/Burial permit
ii) Letter from the employer, if in employment prior to death
iii) Social Security card/number
iv) Death Reporting form
v) Completed Validation form, including record of service for employees on the Accountant General’s payroll as at January 2002, signed and endorsed by the appropriate authority
vi) Recent passport pictures of survivors/ departments
vii) Evidence of schooling for dependent children between ages 18-23 years
viii) Marriage certificate or Affidavit for surviving spouse
ix) Birth certificate(s) of dependent child (ren)
x) Earnings record or contribution schedule
xi) Letter of authority for minors (SS7A)
xii) Completed application form for each claimant

In both cases, the application is incomplete in the following instances:

i) If the date of birth on the Member Registration (SS1A) form for member and/or dependants differs from the records when you registered with NASSIT
ii) The name on social security card differs from employer’s records
iii) The spouse and dependants claiming benefits are not the names that the member provided to NASSIT at registration
iv) The member who dies was contributed for, but did not register
v) Absence of earning record/contribution schedule from your employer
vi) Registered with NASSIT but contributions not updated up to date of the contingency

Its aim is to process all applications for Old age and/or Survivors benefit within Two (2) Weeks of receiving a completed application. When they receive an incomplete application form, NASSIT immediately writes to you and your employer, using your address indicated on the application form, informing you why the application cannot be processed. Until they receive a response with the information/ documentation required your application is put on hold.

The Management of NASSIT is therefore appealing to all those who have submitted applications for Old age and/or Survivors benefit and that have not received any payment to visit any of our Regional Offices for assistance to have their applications processed without delay. In the same vein, NASSIT wishes to appeal to all its esteemed members to regularly update their registration details. This applies when, for example, they have married, have a new child or new children, and have changed their addresses or jobs. This is important in the unfortunate event of death, so your dependants will benefit from financial security from NASSIT when you are no longer alive.

NASSIT also continues to appeal to qualifying employees on the Accountant General’s payroll as at January 2002 to do all in their power to submit their completed validation forms, including record of service. This record of service lets NASSIT update your contribution to the scheme and increases your benefit earning when you retire since we pay your benefit as if NASSIT existed when you joined Government service. By not submitting your validation form and record of service, you throw away your valuable services to the nation since these will not be included in computing your retirement and/or the benefits to your survivors in the event of death.

Remember, you the member, your employer and NASSIT share responsibility to ensure that your application is complete and accurate.