In order to determine the allocation of the benefit, the EPPF has 12 months from the date of your passing to conduct investigations to determine or confirm the beneficiaries among whom your death benefit lump sum must be allocated. The findings are submitted to the Board of Trustees who determine the allocations
Your lump sum death benefit is, firstly, allocated to your legal dependants. This includes your spouse, and eligible children. Eligible children are biological or adopted children under the age of 21, your posthumous children who are born after you pass away and your incapacitated children over the age of 21 years. Factual dependants such as parents or siblings for whom you provided financially are also considered. Factors which are considered in the allocation of the death benefit lump sum include the dependants’ ages, the extent of dependency, the nature of the relationship with the deceased, future potential earning capability and the lump sum amount available for distribution. If you have no dependants, the benefit is distributed to other beneficiaries indicated in your Beneficiary Nomination Form, or to your estate. It is therefore important to complete a Beneficiary Nomination Form when you join the EPPF, or update the form when you get married, divorced, have children or attain financial dependants. Deferred pensioners are also encouraged to complete Beneficiary Nomination Form at life changing events. The form is used to assist the EPPF in conducting the Section 37C investigations and determining the benefit allocation. Further, it is advisable to complete your Beneficiary Nomination Form in accordance with the provisions of Section 37C, as the Trustees make the determinations in line with the law. This will also expedite the distribution of your benefit to your beneficiaries.
The EPPF conducts Trustee elections every four years to appoint a Board of Trustees. The Board has 14 Trustees, half of whom are appointed by the employer, and the other half of whom are elected by the members of the EPPF as follows:
Two pensioner elected Trustees
Two non-bargaining unit in-service member-elected Trustees
Three bargaining unit in-service member-elected Trustees
The Rules of the EPPF do not allow for any loans to be made against your pension benefit.
The EPPF has a complaints resolution procedure. Please click here to view the procedure.
In a defined benefit fund, the benefits payable are defined in terms of the rules of the funds and re-calculated in terms of a certain formula. This means that the benefits are guaranteed and are not dependant on the investment performance of the fund.
In a defined contribution fund, the benefits payable are dependent on the investment returned earned on the contributions by in-service members. This means that the benefits payable are based on member contributions and investment earned on the contributions.
The EPPF is a defined benefit fund.
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