Answer to a question from a reader

My father was a police officer who died on duty. Can I claim any money?

The short answer

As a SAPS member, he should have been a member of the Government Employees Pension Fund, and his wife or partner and children would be entitled to benefits after his death.

The whole question

My father died on duty as a SAPS member in 2006. He died in a car accident. I was 12 years old. Can I claim any money?

The long answer

Thank you for your email asking about possible benefits from the SAPS after your father’s death in 2006.

As a SAPS member, he should have been a member of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), and his wife or partner and children would be entitled to benefits after his death. The amount of the benefit would depend on his years of service. A member of the GEPF would normally have filled out a Beneficiary Nomination Form (WP1002) specifying who should be paid out.

Since June 2018, the laws governing the GEPF have changed so that the children and the surviving parent could both be paid benefits at the same time. Children would receive benefits up to the age of 22, but from the age of 18 would be paid into their own bank accounts.

The best thing to do would be to contact the GEPF with all your father’s details, including ID number, dates of service and death certificate. You can ask them what the position is, and how you should apply for benefits if you are entitled to them.

Here’s how you can contact them:

GEPF CALL CENTRE 0800 117 669

www.gepf.co.za

Answered on March 7, 2019, 12:11 p.m.

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Please note. We are not lawyers or financial advisors. We do our best to make the answers accurate, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors.