Variations in disability benefits

The circumstances in which invalidity and disability benefits are paid differ because of the different nature of the two schemes.

The Pensions and Other Benefits Scheme provides for an invalidity benefit for contributors to the scheme below the age of 60 who becomes permanently incapable of working due to physical or mental ill health.

Where and how they became invalid does not matter. The important issues are that they are no longer capable of any work and that this condition is medically certified as appearing to be permanent.

The benefit will be a pension, if one has contributed to the scheme for at least 12 months. It will be a single lump sum grant if the person has contributed for less than 12 months, but more than six months.

The Worker’s Compensation Insurance Fund, which is intended to provide financial relief to employees and their families when the employee is injured at work, pays a disability pension to an employee injured at work, if the resultant degree of injury is more than 30 percent or if the calculated pension rate is above the set minimum pension.

The monthly pension includes allowances for children up to the age of 19.
If the disability resulting from an injury at work is permanent, but assessed as less than 30 percent and the calculated pension rate is below the set minimum pension, a lump sum is paid.

The employer and employee pay equal contributions to the NPS scheme. The employer alone pays the WCIF monthly premiums. To obtain a pension or lump sum grant for disability with the WCIF scheme, the disability must have occurred while the person was working or at the workplace under the employer’s control.

It must be permanent, but does not have to prevent the person from working any more. A person with a 35 percent disability, for instance, would probably still be capable of working. With the pension scheme, however, to be eligible for invalidity benefit, the invalidity must permanently prevent the person from being able to work.

It does not, though, need to be work-related. It can be the result of physical or medical conditions that have developed anywhere and may have been caused by a variety of circumstances or conditions.

A contributor’s invalidity and worker’s disability pension is for life. In the case of the invalidity pension paid under the Pensions and Other Benefits Scheme, if the invalidity turns out not to have permanently prevented the person from working and the invalidity pension recipient discovers that he/she is able to work and obtains employment, then he or she should inform NSSA so that the pension can be cancelled.

In the case of the worker’s disability pension paid under the WCIF scheme, the pension may be paid as a lump sum if the injured person has recovered resulting in a downward review of the disability.

It is not possible for one person to receive concurrent pensions under the NPS scheme, for instance, a person receiving invalidity pension cannot also receive a retirement pension on reaching retirement age. Under the WCIF scheme, a person may have concurrent pensions arising from different injuries or accidents.

However, it is possible to qualify for both an invalidity pension under the Pensions and Other Benefits Scheme and a disability pension under the WCIF, since the two schemes are different and contributed separately.

The invalidity pension should be claimed within 12 months of invalidity. The documents required are a P9/P10 form, completed by both the contributor and employer, a P11 (a) form, completed by a registered medical doctor and a certified copy of the claimant’s identity card, passport or driver’s licence.

NSSA may require the claimant to appear before a NSSA medical board and undergo a medical examination by a NSSA appointed doctor.
Talking Social Security is published weekly by NSSA as a public service. There is also a weekly radio programme, Pa-Mhepo neNssa/Emoyeni leNSSA, discussing social security issues at 6.50pm every Thursday on Radio Zimbabwe and every Friday on National FM as well as on Star FM on Wednesdays after 5pm.

Readers can e-mail issues to [email protected] or text them to 0772-307913. Those with individual queries should contact their local NSSA office or telephone NSSA on (04) 706517-8 or 706523-5.