Are my sister and I eligible for a portion of our late mother's GEPF?

The long answer

As a member of the GEPF your mother would have filled out a Beneficiary Nomination Form (WP1002) specifying who should share in her benefit and at what percentage. Firstly, your stepfather is likely to be entitled to a spouse’s pension, which is a percentage of the pension paid to your mother at the time of her death, no matter how long after retirement she died. 

In the case of you and your sister, as you are older than 22 and are therefore not considered dependent children, you would be entitled to a lump sum payment if you were named as her beneficiaries and if she died within five years of retiring. The amount would depend on the percentage of the benefit she put down in the beneficiary nomination form. 

The best thing to do would be to contact the GEPF with all your mother’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 is the GEPF toll-free contact number: 0800 117 669

E-mail: enquiries@gepf.co.za

Tel: (012) 326 2507