GIPF beneficiaries wait in abject poverty
An Omusati family from Ombwata village in Okahao are living in abject poverty, despite being entitled to a Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) death benefit that dates back to 2006.
Selma Nekulilo Shoombe (48), who lives with her five children and grandchildren, said they were only made of the GIPF benefit last year.
She also shared her ordeal with Namibian Sun, which has unfolded since her husband, Uushona Isak Shigwedha, passed away 12 years ago.
Shoombe said they had been married “traditionally” and when her husband passed away, his family inherited all of his possessions, including beds, pots and other household items, leaving her with nothing but the children.
A teary Shoombe said she has had to eke out a living for her and the kids.
She said four of her children left school because she could not afford to buy them school uniforms and educational materials, as well as feed them on a daily basis. She says her late husband's family “do not care”.
Shoombe said she was made aware last year that her late husband had stipulated that his five children should benefit from his GIPF death benefit. In February she went to GIPF and put in a claim for the money. She was then asked to provide the necessary documents.
Shoombe, however, feels the process is taking too long and that it is unfair for the family to endure extreme poverty, when her late husband had made provision for his kids.
She said she needs the funds urgently and also questioned why GIPF had never contacted her about the money for over a decade.
“What we are going through is terrible. Seeing your children leaving school because of the situation is really bad. We went through a lot and our lives could have turned out differently, if we had the means to survive,” Shoombe said.
“I have been going to GIPF's offices and they requested documents, which I have provided to them. However, I still have not received a solid answer as to when we will receive the money.” When contacted for comment, GIPF spokesperson Robyn Nakaambo confirmed that Shoombe had visited their offices and she and her children were indeed her late husband's beneficiaries. “It is indeed regrettable to hear that a family had to go through so many years without an income, due to unclaimed benefits,” Nakaambo said.
When asked why the family had not received their benefits since 2006, Nakaambo said the family only visited the GIPF office earlier this year.
“The above-queried death-before-retirement claim of the late Mr Uushona Isak Shigwedha was received for the first time at our office in Oshakati on the 21 February, and after scrutiny it was discovered that some documents were outstanding on the claim and were than requested,” Nakaambo said.
When asked when the family is likely to receive the money, Nakaambo said a claim is only paid out 12 months after all the documents are submitted.
“As per the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956, the turnaround time for a death claim is a 12-month waiting period, if everything is submitted. Kindly note that the time allocated to this period is to ensure GIPF does due diligence in paying out the benefits to the beneficiaries and to ensure that all beneficiaries receive what is due to them,” she said.
Nakaambo said the family's claim will be tabled at the next benefits and administration (BAC) meeting and will be paid out shortly after approval. She also used the opportunity to call on families who have lost loved ones to come forward and claim the benefits due to them.
“With GIPF's efforts to engage our members through our member education roadshows and radio campaigns, we would like to appeal to all families who have lost loved ones, and that have not claimed benefits due to them, to come forward and ensure that their documentation is in order, to ensure the timely payment of benefits.”
KENYA KAMBOWE
Selma Nekulilo Shoombe (48), who lives with her five children and grandchildren, said they were only made of the GIPF benefit last year.
She also shared her ordeal with Namibian Sun, which has unfolded since her husband, Uushona Isak Shigwedha, passed away 12 years ago.
Shoombe said they had been married “traditionally” and when her husband passed away, his family inherited all of his possessions, including beds, pots and other household items, leaving her with nothing but the children.
A teary Shoombe said she has had to eke out a living for her and the kids.
She said four of her children left school because she could not afford to buy them school uniforms and educational materials, as well as feed them on a daily basis. She says her late husband's family “do not care”.
Shoombe said she was made aware last year that her late husband had stipulated that his five children should benefit from his GIPF death benefit. In February she went to GIPF and put in a claim for the money. She was then asked to provide the necessary documents.
Shoombe, however, feels the process is taking too long and that it is unfair for the family to endure extreme poverty, when her late husband had made provision for his kids.
She said she needs the funds urgently and also questioned why GIPF had never contacted her about the money for over a decade.
“What we are going through is terrible. Seeing your children leaving school because of the situation is really bad. We went through a lot and our lives could have turned out differently, if we had the means to survive,” Shoombe said.
“I have been going to GIPF's offices and they requested documents, which I have provided to them. However, I still have not received a solid answer as to when we will receive the money.” When contacted for comment, GIPF spokesperson Robyn Nakaambo confirmed that Shoombe had visited their offices and she and her children were indeed her late husband's beneficiaries. “It is indeed regrettable to hear that a family had to go through so many years without an income, due to unclaimed benefits,” Nakaambo said.
When asked why the family had not received their benefits since 2006, Nakaambo said the family only visited the GIPF office earlier this year.
“The above-queried death-before-retirement claim of the late Mr Uushona Isak Shigwedha was received for the first time at our office in Oshakati on the 21 February, and after scrutiny it was discovered that some documents were outstanding on the claim and were than requested,” Nakaambo said.
When asked when the family is likely to receive the money, Nakaambo said a claim is only paid out 12 months after all the documents are submitted.
“As per the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956, the turnaround time for a death claim is a 12-month waiting period, if everything is submitted. Kindly note that the time allocated to this period is to ensure GIPF does due diligence in paying out the benefits to the beneficiaries and to ensure that all beneficiaries receive what is due to them,” she said.
Nakaambo said the family's claim will be tabled at the next benefits and administration (BAC) meeting and will be paid out shortly after approval. She also used the opportunity to call on families who have lost loved ones to come forward and claim the benefits due to them.
“With GIPF's efforts to engage our members through our member education roadshows and radio campaigns, we would like to appeal to all families who have lost loved ones, and that have not claimed benefits due to them, to come forward and ensure that their documentation is in order, to ensure the timely payment of benefits.”
KENYA KAMBOWE
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