1. The terms and conditions of the funeral benefit are as follows:
Payment of funeral benefit
13b3.1
On the death of a participant and /or his /her immediate family member the fund will pay the benefit amount as indicated in rule 13b5 when the following conditions have been fulfilled:
The claim is admitted by the fund; and the documents contained in clause 13b6 are submitted to the fund.
13b3.2
No claim in respect of a deceased participant shall be admitted by the fund unless the fund receives written notice thereof within six (6) months after the date of death and receives the required documents, as referred to in clause 13b6, within six (6) months of the notification of death or three (3) months after the inquest in respect of the deceased participant.
13b3.3
The trustees may, at their sole discretion, consider a claim which is submitted after the six (6) month period of grace. The trustees reserve the right to ask for such evidence as they deem necessary, explaining the delay in submission of the claim.
13b3.4
The fund shall, subject to the provisions contained in clause 13b4, 13b5 and 13b6, pay the benefits in respect of a participant to either, in order of preference.
The member, the spouse or, the participant’s dependant(s) and/or nominated beneficiaries as the case may be.
13b3.5
On the death of an eligible member the surviving spouse shall be entitled to a “fully paid-up benefit” covering his/her life, i.e. No further contributions would be payable.
13b3.6
9c pensioners, a historic closed group of union members, are specifically provided for in terms of the funeral benefit, in order to align the funeral benefits of the fund with the union’s previous funeral scheme provided by an external insurer.
13b4: Exclusions
13b4.1
The fund shall not pay the funeral benefit in respect of a participant if the death was caused, directly or indirectly, by:
1. Suicide.
2. Active participation in war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities, warlike operations (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion assuming the proportions of or amount to an uprising, military or usurped power.
3. The use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, or any radioactive contamination; or
4. Attacks on or sabotage of facilities (including, but not limited to, nuclear power plants, reprocessing plants, final repository sites and research reactor) and storage depots, which lead to the release of radioactivity or nuclear, biological or chemical agents.
5. Irrespective of whether any of the aforesaid has been performed with the specific use of information technology.
6. Any act of civil commotion, riot, strike, labour disturbance or disturbance of the public peace.
7. Any act of terrorism; i.e. An act, including but not limited to, the use of force or violence and/or the threat thereof, by any person or group(s) of persons, whether acting alone or on behalf of or in connection with any organisation(s) or government(s), committed for political, religious, ideological, or similar purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public, or any section of the public, in fear that has been determined by the appropriate federal authority to have been an act of terrorism.
13b4.2
Both sub-paragraphs (iii) and (iv) in clause 13b4.1 will remain waived, subject to the fund reserving the right to reinstate these exclusions by giving the union 3 months written notice.
13b5: Benefit Payable
13b5.1
The following benefits will be paid by the fund, based on clause 13b2, and can be adjusted by the trustees at their discretion.
13b6
Required documents and information for benefit payment
The following documents and information but not limited to will be required before any funeral benefit payment can be processed:
13b6.1
An eligible member’s death:
1. Completed death claim form.
2. Original or certified copy of the death certificate.
3. The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable.
4. Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member.
5. When payment is made to a spouse, dependant or beneficiary, proof of the relationship must be provided. Proof, such as an original or certified copy of marriage certificate for a spouse, or his/her identity document and corresponding birth certificate for a dependant would be acceptable.
13b6.2
A spouse’s death:
1. Completed death claim form
2. Original or certified copy of the death certificate
3. The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable
4. Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member and spouse
5. Original or certified copy of the marriage certificate
13b6.3
A child’s death:
1. Completed death claim form.
2. Original or certified copy of the death certificate.
3. The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable.
4. Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member.
5. Original or certified copy of the birth certificate of the deceased.
6. In the case of a death of a child older than 21, but younger than 25 years: confirmation from the educational institution that the child was a full-time student as at claim event date.
7. In the case of a mentally and/or physically disabled child older than 25 years: a medical certificate confirming that the child was mentally and/or physically disabled.
NB!!
If the marriage certificate or a birth certificate is not available, the following alternative documents will be considered:
1. An affidavit from the priest, community leader, union or head chief, confirming that to their best knowledge the eligible member was married and had dependent children
2. Documents such as a medical aid card, baptismal certificate, hospital- or clinic-card can also be submitted.
Payment of benefits
The benefits accruing from the fund are conditional on the funds available, being in the opinion of the trustees, sufficient to meet all claims. No particular amount shall be regarded as either due or payable until such time as the particular claim has been passed for payment by the trustees.
NB!! All benefit payments will be made by electronic banking transfer(s).