adminNSSA general manager Mr James Matiza said as a result of the pandemic, most contributors were dying before attaining retirement age, making their dependants qualify for survivors’ benefits.
He said the number of beneficiaries under this benefit was increasing due to the country’s relatively high death rate.
“The number of beneficiaries under the Children’s Allowances and Survivors’ Pensions is increasing due to the high death rate experienced in the last decade as a result of the HIV and Aids pandemic.
“Most of the contributors died before attaining retirement age because of the deadly pandemic and as such their spouses and children are receiving the survivors’ benefits,” said Mr Matiza in a statement.
He also said NSSA started paying the survivors’ benefit in 1996 when less than 50 beneficiaries benefited.
Mr Matiza said a survivor’s benefit was paid by NSSA to classified dependants of a contributor and these are the surviving spouse and or children below the age of 18 and 25 if he or she was still in full-time education, parents or other dependants.
He said one of the main challenges they were facing as an authority in trying to make sure that everyone on the list was covered was reaching out to all potential beneficiaries especially those in remote areas.
“The main challenge we are facing is reaching out to all potential beneficiaries especially those in remote areas. As an authority we make use of the print and electronic media, schools, churches and chiefs to reach out to all potential beneficiaries.
“The latter mode is specifically targeted at people in remote areas of the country,” he said.
Mr Matiza said at the moment the average pensions paid for Children’s Allowances and Survivors’ Pensions was $23 per month, meaning the authority was paying an average of more than $900 000 a month.
Online Reporter