Pensions and Other Benefits Scheme (POBS).
The Pensions and Other Benefits Scheme offers Short Term and Long -Term Benefits. Currently payment of Short-Term Benefits is decentralized to the six Regional Offices, whereas payment of Long-Term benefits (pensions) is centralized at Head Office although all documentation is processed at the regional offices.
What are the Benefits of POBS.
Short term POSB benefits include, Retirement grant, Invalidity grant, Survivor’s grand and Funeral grant.
- Retirement Grant-This is a once-off payment to a member who has retired from work. Most well known grant.
- Invalidity Grant-This is a once off payment to a member who has become permanently incapable of working due to continuous illness or mental disability or injury.
- Survivors Grant-This a once off payment made to any dependent of a deceased member who at the time of death must have been entitled to an invalidity or retirement grant.
- Funeral Grant-This is a flat rate benefit payable at death of a member to cover funeral expenses.
Long term Benefits include, Retirement pension, Invalidity pension, Survivor’s pension and Children’s Allowance.
- Retirement Pension
This is a monthly, life payment to a member who has:- Attained 60 years of age, for normal retirement, or 65 years, for late retirement, and is no longer employed.
- Been employed in arduous employment or strenuous work, has attained the age of 55 year and is no longer employed. Arduous employment refers to all strenuous
work as listed in the 2nd schedule to SI 393 of 1993 such as agricultural work, heavy truck drivers, underground operation such as mining, quarry work, forestry work but not office work.
- Invalidity Pension
This is a monthly, life payment to a member who has become permanently incapable of working due to continuous illness or mental disability or injury but has not reached the
retirement age of 60 years. However, the payment ceases once the member has fully recovered or has been employed. - Survivors Pension
This is a monthly, life payment to the surviving spouse or to parents of deceased member who at the time of death was single. - Children’s allowance
Paid to the children of the deceased contributor. Children should be below the age 18 or (25 if they are in full time academic education) or any age if disabled.
| Benefit Type | Qualification Criteria | Formula | Documents Required |
|
1. Retirement Pension |
• Age 55 years early retirement
• (If in arduous occupation) • Age 60 years normal retirement • Age 65 years late retirement • 120 months or more contributory period. • Retired from work. • Credits*if aged 49 years on • 1October 1994 • Claim must be submitted within 12 months from date of retirement |
• 1 1/3 % x average insurable earnings of the last 12 months
• x no of years of contribution in months (Up to a maximum of 30 years) • Plus, I% x last insurable earnings x no. of years in excess of 30 years (Where contribution period exceeds 30 years) |
• P9/I 0 form completed by employer and employee.
• Certified copy of ID or valid passport / driver’s license. • Payslips for the last 3 months of employment. • Current bank statement |
|
2. Retirement Grant |
• Age as in retirement person.
• Minimum of 12 months and less than 120 months contributory period. • Credits* if aged 49 years on 1 October 1994 |
• I /12 x annual insurable Earnings x contributory Period in months. | • As in (1) above |
|
3. Invalidity Pension |
• Medical certificate confirming permanent incapability to work as a result of continuous ill health (mental / physical)
• Contributory period of 12 months and above • Less than 60 years of age. • Claim must be submitted within 12 months from date of retirement. • Medical review is done every 2 years. |
• 1% x average insurable earnings x contributory period.
• 1 1/3 x average insurable earnings of the last 12 months earnings x contributory period (were contributory period exceeds 10 years). • -Free credits* are given 60-A 2 • (Where A is member’s age at last birthday before invalidity) |
• P11 (a) completed by medical doctor and signed by claimant.
• P9/ I0 completed by employee and employer. • Certified copy of ID or valid passport or driver’s license. • Payslips for the last 3 months of employment. • Current bank statement. |
|
4. Invalidity Grant |
• Medical certificate confirming permanent incapability to work as a result of continuous ill health (mental / physical)
• Contributory period of at least 6 months but less than 12 months. • Free credits* (as in 3 above) • Less than 60 years of age. |
• 1 x Annual Insurable Earnings x contributory period | • As in (3) above. |
|
5. Survivors Pension |
• A surviving spouse of a deceased member who would have qualified for either a Retirement or Invalidity pension or was in receipt
of Retirement / Invalidity pension. • Children up to 18 years or 25 years if in full time education or for life if disabled. • Where there is no surviving spouse and children, parents and other defendants qualify. • Claim must be submitted within 12 months from date of death of the contributor. |
• Widow: 40% of what member would have been entitled to as Retirement Pension or Invalidity Pension.
• Children: 40% of pension. • Parents: 12% of pension. • Other defendants: 8% of pension. |
• Certified copy of contributor’s death certificate
• Certified copy of marriage certificate or affidavit • 2 affidavits from relatives with the same surname and certified copies of Id’s. • P/10 completed by employer. • Certified copies of children’s long birth certificates. • Guardianship certificate where applicable. • Proof of dependency in case of other claimants. • Deceased member ‘s long birth certificate in case of Parent Allowance. • Payslips for the last 3 months of employment • Current bank statement for claimant |
