Your retirement Fund helps provide for your family in times of need.
If you die, your family and other financial dependents will receive a death benefit.

What is a family register form?

The family register form is a form on which you indicate to whom you wish to have your death benefit paid.

Always keep your family register form up to date.

If you have not completed a family register form, it may be difficult for trustees to trace your family members. The procedure can become complicated which will cause a delay in the final benefit payment.

You must update your family register form each time your circumstances change, either through death, divorce, marriage or the birth of a child.

The family register form is a guide for the trustees. The trustees do not have to follow this form when they distribute the death benefit. It only shows them who you would like to receive some or all of your death benefit. The final decision is up to the trustees.

If you have a beneficiary or dependent whom you don’t want to receive a portion of your death benefit, you need to name them on your family register form as receiving 0% with a valid reason for your decision.

Why is this form required?

Legislation requires that the Trustees of the Fund consider and approve the distribution of your death benefit amongst your dependants and/or nominees. The Fund's family register form is used to guide the Trustees on how to distribute your death benefit; however, they retain the discretion to make payment of death benefits to dependants and/or nominees as they deem equitable.

How can I update my family register information?

Click here to download the form

OR

 Click here to capture your family register online. 

How will my death benefit be distributed?

Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act states that in the event of your death, your benefit in the Funds should be distributed as follows:

• To dependants; or
• Dependants and nominees; or
• If there are no dependants, to your nominees; (but any deficit in your estate first has to be settled); or
• If there are no dependants or nominees, to your estate.

Who do I list on my form?

The Trustees of the Fund have to ensure by law that all your financial dependants are taken care of first, before any money is paid to your nominees. Financial dependants include any illegitimate or adopted children, and any spouses. When you have children or a spouse or other people who are financially dependent on you, they should be nominated as beneficiaries on your nomination forms. The Trustees have to first trace all your dependants, and listing them on your forms makes this process easier for the Trustees.

Who are my beneficiaries?

Your beneficiaries can be divided into two groups:

Dependants

Dependants include a spouse, life partner, children and anyone else who may be financially dependent on you.

Nominees

Nominees are beneficiaries who are not financially dependent on you.

What happens if I have no dependants?

You still need to complete the family register form. You will therefore not list any dependants on the forms; only nominees.