The National Treasury wishes to announce the launch of the Special Pensions awareness campaign. The aim of the campaign is to inform potential beneficiaries of amendments to the Special pensions Act and to reach people who have not yet applied.
The fight for a democratic South Africa led to many people sacrificing their lives, livelihoods and families. The Special Pensions Act was enacted in 1996 in order to address the plight of those who had made these sacrifices, and in the process lost an opportunity to provide for their livelihood while in the pursuit of freedom and a just society.
On 27 April the country commemorated 12 years of freedom, and will on Monday, 8 May celebrate ten years of the constitution of the Republic. In the same celebratory and commemoratory spirit the National Treasury's Special Pensions office therefore wishes to invite potential beneficiaries who have not yet applied for a special pension to do so.
Following amendments made by Parliament to the Special Pensions Act the National Treasury will embark on a comprehensive awareness campaign in order to communicate the amendments and the closing date for applications, which is 31 December 2006.
The amendments make provision for surviving spouses or orphans of pensioners to receive a monthly pension in addition to the lump sum payment previously received. The amended Act further provides for a funeral benefit to be paid to the families of deceased pensioners, or the deceased spouses and children of pensioners who benefit from the Special Pensions Act.
The awareness campaign will give further details around the application process, the qualification criteria for people who are eligible for a special pension and will also encourage potential beneficiaries to apply before the closing date. Individuals whose applications had been rejected in the past by both the Special Pensions Board and Review Board may apply for a reconsideration provided that they are able to present material facts that were not considered by the Boards and that may have resulted in a different decision.
For more information potential beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the client services number toll free on 080 7723 646.