Retirement

A deferred member may retire and take a pension at any time from age 55 but no later than age 65. The deferred member may choose to receive a cash benefit not more than 1/3 of their total benefit. The balance shall be used to provide a monthly pension and will be calculated in line with the Fund rules.

Death before retirement from the Deferred Pension Scheme

If a deferred member passes away before retirement, the lump sum benefit in the Deferred Pension Scheme (transfer value, plus interest) will be allocated to their beneficiaries in terms of Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act.

This means that EPPF will investigate and verify whether the deferred member had legal dependants, such as:

• a spouse whom they married before deferring the benefit.
• minor children, adopted or posthumous children,
• factual dependants (parents or a family member who is financially dependent on the deferred
  member).

EPPF has up to 12 months to investigate and determine the distribution of the benefit. If the deferred member has no dependants, the benefit will be paid to the deferred member’s estate. No further benefit will be payable from EPPF.

Death after retirement from the Deferred Pension Scheme

If a deferred pensioner passes away after retiring from the Deferred Pension Scheme, the following benefits will be payable:

1. A pension equal to 60% of the current pension at the date of death is payable to the spouse
2. A further 30% of the pension if there is an eligible child (under 21 years), and an additional 10% if there are two or more eligible children.

The surviving spouse must be a spouse whom the deferred pensioner married prior to retiring from the Deferred Pension Scheme. If the deferred pensioner married after beginning to receive a pension from EPPF, the surviving spouse will not qualify to receive a pension upon the deferred pensioner’s passing.

If there is no surviving spouse, but there is an eligible child, the child will receive a pension equal to 60% of the deferred pensioner’s pension at the date of death. If there are two or more eligible children, the percentage will increase to 100%.

If a deferred pensioner passes away within 5 years of their retirement date, then the pension that would have been payable over the first 5 years of the retirement shall be paid as a lumpsum in line with Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act.

• Log into your profile to download the Beneficiary Nomination Form. Please make sure that you complete the Beneficiary Nomination Form in detail.
• Submit the signed form to us by email, post or hand deliver it to any of our offices. Click here for all locations and contact details.
• We recommend that you send posted forms via registered post so we can track your form.
• Contact our Call Centre to confirm receipt and capturing of your nomination form.

Once every three years, pensioners must confirm that they are alive and can still receive their pension benefit. This is done by completing an Evidence of Survival (EOS) Form. How do I submit my EOS?
Your EOS can be submitted using one of the following options: 

1. EOS through USSD
USSD allows you to submit your EOS through your mobile phone, so you don’t have to fill in any forms, visit a police station or worry about how long it will take to reach us.

• Dial *134*20072# from your mobile phone and follow the prompts
• You must provide a response on the screen within 30 seconds or your session will
  automatically end for security purposes.. If your session ends automatically ends, you will
  need to start over.
• Once complete, you’ll receive a notification of your successful submission.

For more guidance, read the full EOS USSD Guide here: EOS USSD Guide

2. EOS through the Member Portal

You can also submit Evidence of Survival through the member portal on our website. Follow this guide: EOS e-form Guide

To upload scanned copies of your EOS form on the member portal, follow the guidelines by clicking here. Documents must be less than 5MB and in PDF.

3. Physical Evidence of Survival (EOS) Form

The option of physical Evidence of Survival (EOS) is still available.

1. If you don’t have a mobile phone or access to the Member Portal on the EPPF website, please read, complete and print the EOS form.
2. Once completed and printed, the EOS form must be stamped and certified by a Commissioner of Oaths, who can be found at magistrates’ offices, attorneys’ offices, banks, post offices and police stations.
   Alternatively, Affirming Authority stamps can be used. You can get these from: 
   • Lawyers or notary public who are members of a recognised professional body 
   • Actuaries or accountants who are members of a recognised professional body 
   • Members of the judiciary 
   • Directors, managers or company secretaries of a bank or regulated financial services business.
3. When you get your EOS form certified, please take your identity document or passport with you. Make sure to sign to sign both forms before you send them to us. To return the forms to the Fund, email a copy of the form to webupdate@eppf.co.za.

What happens if I don't submit my EOS form?

If you do not send your EOS by the payroll closing date, the payment of your pension will be suspended until EPPF receives your form. The implications of not submitting on time can be far-reaching. Apart from not receiving your pension, certain third-party deductions, like medical aid payments, may not be processed.

Are widows, widowers and guardians with minor children required to submit an EOS?

Yes. Widows, widowers and guardians with minor children in receipt of a pension, as well as disabled children in receipt of a lifelong pension, is required to submit an EOS. The following should be noted:

• Each widow or widower and child in the household who receives a pension must submit their EOS through one of the channels, and
• In the case of a minor child or a disabled child, the guardian must submit an EOS on behalf of the minor or disabled child.

How to have your pension reinstated if it is suspended at the end of the EOS closing date if you are based outside South Africa.

Request an Evidence of Survival form from the EPPF or log in to your profile to download a form. Submit the original, certified form either by hand or by post.

Once the form reaches our offices, the reinstatement and payment process take about two weeks from receipt of the form.

South African based pensioners no longer need to submit EOS forms every year but will be verified through the Department of Home Affairs.

Counselling

All members who are exiting the Fund must meet with a Retirement Fund Consultant. The Retirement Fund Consultant will provide them with the information they need to make an informed decision when withdrawing.

Withdrawal Application

The member, with the help of Human Resources or a Retirement Fund Consultant, must complete the claim form. This claim form is used to process the withdrawal benefit as per the member’s instruction. If previously divorced members are encouraged to submit their divorce documents to the Fund to prevent delays should the divorce be legally binding on the Fund.

Documents

All certified supporting documents requested on the application form must be provided to the Fund, together with the claim form before the exit date.

Last Contribution

EPPF awaits the final confirmation and the last contribution from the employer before starting the withdrawal process. The contributions are received by the employer by the 7th of the month after your exit date. The Earnings Yield Rate is also updated for the month. Thereafter the contributions are uploaded and the processing of the claim begins.

Calculation

The member’s final withdrawal calculation is done in line with the Fund rules.

Tax

The withdrawal benefit is sent to SARS to confirm the tax deductible.

Cash Lump sum

The net cash lumpsum after the deduction of tax from the cash lumpsum is paid out. Members who choose to transfer/preserve their benefit, may have the payment made directly to the institution they selected.

Letter
A payment letter detailing the lumpsum, tax and nett amount paid and the member’s IRP5 certificate is posted to confirm that the claim has been finalised.

• The Fund gets notified of the death by a family member.
• The applicant needs to complete a death application form and provide the deceased’s tax number.
• The member’s death lumpsum benefit is calculated and sent to SARS to confirm the tax deductible.
• Once the tax is finalised, the calculated death lump sum is referred to the Fund Benefit Investigations Team to conduct the Section 37 C of the Pension Fund’s Act dependency investigation.
• The Benefits Committee puts together a recommendation regarding the distribution of the lump sum death benefit for the Trustees to review and sign.
• NB – The law allows this process to take place for about 12 months to ensure a proper investigation and to identify beneficiaries.

• The Fund is notified of the divorce by the non-member spouse (applicant).
• The final divorce decree as granted by any court of law, is sent to the Fund’s Legal team for their confirmation on whether the divorce is legally binding on the Fund.
• The Fund’s Legal department advises on how the divorce benefits should be calculated as stipulated on the final divorce order.
• The Fund notifies the claimant of the outcome and sends the divorce application form (Form 3B) to the claimant for their completion.
• The non-member spouse is required to submit the divorce application form together with an original certified copy of ID, marriage certificate, proof of bank account details and proof of SARS tax reference number.
• The non-member spouse’s record is created for processing of the divorcer claim.
• The non-member spouse divorce settlement calculation is done in line with the Fund rules and time periods stipulated by the Pension Funds Act
• The tax directive is requested from SARS.
• The member is notified of the divorce claim and the impact on their pension benefit by email or telephone.
• The nett amount after tax deduction is paid to the claimant’s banks account. If the claimant opted for their benefit to be transferred to an external fund, payment is made directly to the Fund and provide the Fund with poof of payment.
• The non-member spouse payment letter and tax certificates are posted to the address provided.
• The non-member spouse payment letter and tax certificates is posted to the address provided.

Yes, you may. But you must submit your application before the age of 65.

The surviving spouse must be a spouse whom the deferred pensioner married prior to retiring from the Deferred Pension Scheme. If the deferred pensioner married after beginning to receive a pension from the EPPF, the surviving spouse will not qualify to receive a pension upon the deferred pensioner’s passing.

If there is no surviving spouse, but there is an eligible child, the child will receive a pension equal to 60% of the deferred pensioner’s pension at the date of death. If there are two or more eligible children, the percentage will increase to 100%.

To change your banking details when you relocate to another country, you must submit the following documents to us:

• Original, certified copy of your identity document or passport
• An original, completed, International Banking Form (IBF). The IBF must be completed by the bank to which you want to transfer your benefit, or by your foreign exchange service provider. Log in to your profile to download the IBF.
• Remember to also advise us of your change in address. Click here to update your address
  and other contact information on the Member Portal.
   

• You may withdraw or retire from the Deferred Pension Scheme.
• If you choose to withdraw, you can only do that before the age of 65.
• If you did not withdraw before age 55 then you may retire between the ages of 55 and 65. You can elect to start your pension anytime between the ages of 55 but no later than 65.
• To begin drawing a pension from the Deferred Pension Scheme, you must complete an Application for Retirement Benefits Form and to withdraw you must complete an Application for Deferred Benefit Withdrawal Form.
• If you wish to receive your pension in a bank account outside South Africa, you must complete the International Banking, together with the Application for Application for Deferred Benefit Pension. Log in to your profile to download both forms.

No, unfortunately not. The South African Revenue Service doesn’t allow continuing contributions by a person, to an employer sponsored retirement scheme after the person is no longer employed by the employer. As soon as you leave the service, you are no longer an active member and contributions must stop.

You have three options on deferment:

1. Defer the full value of your benefit in the Deferred Pension Scheme
   2. Take the maximum of the tax-free portion and transfer the balance to the Deferred Pension Scheme.
   3. In the case of a retrenchment, you may take a cash refund equal to your accumulated member contributions (minus tax – taxed at the rate applicable on withdrawal) and transfer the balance to the Deferred Pension Scheme. This option is only applicable to members who are retrenched before reaching the age of 55.