Tribunal upholds funds’ broad discretion in death benefit allocation
A nominee who receives a dependency allocation can still claim a share of any surplus death benefit according to the deceased’s nominations.
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Retirement funds can’t use POPIA to withhold information from the Adjudicator
PAIA and POPIA should not be misused to hide inadequate investigations into dependants’ claims.
Retirement fund cannot withhold benefits without precise liability admission
The Tribunal says the Adjudicator should have addressed the fund’s reliance on two acknowledgements of debt stating different amounts.
Member’s withdrawal bid denied as two-pot rules exclude legacy RAs
The Pension Funds Adjudicator rules the fund acted within the law when it refused a member’s request to dip into his FlexiPension plan.
Legally wed, financially left out: wife denied pension benefit
The FST has upheld a ruling that a legal spouse must still prove financial dependence or be nominated to receive a share of a deceased member’s pension benefit.
FSCA probes complaint processes amid surprisingly low filing rates
A survey shows that only 8% of consumers lodged complaints with financial institutions between 2021 and 2023. Does this figure reflect genuine satisfaction or signal barriers in the complaint process?
Enforcement is the Achilles’ heel in contribution compliance, says Adjudicator
The FSCA, National Treasury, and the Pension Funds Adjudicator tell MPs what they are doing to address the non-payment of retirement fund contributions. Regulatory interventions other than COFI may be in the offing.
Adjudicator to propose holding trustees personally accountable for non-payment of contributions
Muvhango Lukhaimane will also consult with trustees on guidelines for naming and shaming problematic funds, administrators, and employers.
Lukhaimane urges caution as litigation over beneficiary tracing continues
The SA Retirement Annuity Fund is looking to the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court decision in favour of the Pension Funds Adjudicator.
Twins born from donor sperm outside marriage not legal dependants
Sperm does not a father make and being a biological parent does not confer absolute rights, according to a ruling by the Pension Funds Adjudicator.
When does the countdown for tracing a fund member’s dependants start?
High Court hands down a decision on the interpretation of the tracing provision in section 37C of the Pension Funds Act.
Retirement fund ordered to pay fraud victim’s R800 000 benefit
A pension fund mistakenly paid out a fraudulent claim to a syndicate while the rightful member was in prison.
Fund rapped for not giving a member a hearing before deciding to withhold his withdrawal benefit
The member, along with two others, was criminally charged because of allegedly fraudulent conduct that cost the employer R4 million.
Failure to act timeously over arrear contributions places members’ benefits at risk
Over half of the awards issued by the Pension Funds Adjudicator for complaints about unpaid contributions were affected because part of the claim had expired.
No death certificate, no benefit pay-out for wife
A missing person’s affairs are in legal limbo until a death certificate is issued or the High Court makes a presumption of death declaration.
Wife accused of murder cannot receive a death benefit
‘The bloody hand does not inherit’ is an established common law principle, says the Pension Funds Adjudicator.
Key aspects of Treasury’s proposals to reform SA’s financial ombud system
The National Financial Ombud’s jurisdiction will be expanded in phases to include the activities of all regulated financial institutions.
