Divorce Debt
As you may be aware, when GEPF is required to pay a portion of the pension interest to an ex-spouse (non-member) on an instruction in the divorce decree, a debt is created against the member. This debt plus interest must be repaid by the member. Read more.
Change To GEPF Law
A change to the Government Employees Pension Law was recently approved, whereby the debt that accrues to a member of the GEPF, will be replaced by a reduction in the service period used to calculate the exit benefit of a member.
What Are The Implications Of This Change?
- Payment will still be made to the ex-spouse according to the divorce decree
- GEPF will reduce the service year of the member proportionally to cancel the debt plus interest accrued by the member
The service reduction approach holds an advantage for the member, thus the GEPF made provision for the members who still have outstanding divorce debt, to convert to the service reduction approach.
How It Works
In the coming month(s) members who do have divorce debt will be contacted by the GEPF in writing informing them about how these changes are going to affect their pensions and service period. Members will be allowed the opportunity to opt from the old divorce debt model or the service reduction model. The affected members will have up until the 22 May 2020 to indicate their choice of either remaining with the debt and interest model or move to the service adjustment model approach. Currently affected members who fail to indicate their choice by 22 May 2020 will automatically be converted into the new approach. Post 22 May 2020 all members who have a legal divorce claim against their pension will be subjected to the service reduction model.
What If You Already Have Outstanding Divorce Debt
The following will apply to members who still have outstanding divorce debt:
- The GEPF will provide you with a summary of your debt.
- Interest will be calculated that accrued on the debt up to 31 December 2019 as well as the debt that will accrue up until retirement date.
- A service reduction calculation will also be done up until 31 December 2019.
- GEPF will provide affected members with a summary of what the debt and benefits will be on retirement compared to what the benefit will be on retirement date should the member opt for service reduction.
- Members will then have the option to indicate whether they wish to remain on the debt model or convert to the service reduction model by means of complete a “Choice Form” (supplied by GEPF).
- Once a member has exercised their choice, the position is irreversible
- Members will receive confirmation of their debt balance and/or service period.
- Membership certificates will be updated to reflect the member’s choice.
What About New Divorces
Post 22 May 2020 all members who have a legal divorce claim against their pension will be subjected to the service reduction model.
Sourcs: http://www.gepf.co.za/index.php/news/article/gepf-change-rules-regarding-pension-debt-divorce
May I please get the forms for divorce clean break
Dear Hendrick, I do not have the Clean break choice form, it is only obtainable from GEPF. Members who had their divorce dealt with in terms of the debt approach and who were divorced before 1 August 2019, have until 22 MAY 2020 to exercise their choice should they wish to remain on the debt approach or move to the service reduction approach. Affected members have been sent communication to exercise their choice. If you have not received such communication please contact their call centre on 0800 117 669 OR email cleanbreakenquiries@gpaa.gov.za to request or submit your Choice Forms.
Good day, I would like to find out if payments regarding pension redress will be made anytime soon this year (2021)?
Regards
Dear Bongeka, there is no definite indication when payments for REDRESS will be done. You can contact PSCBC directly with your query.
Good morning,
I need some assistance please. The GEPF keep on telling me they want to process the payout for my mom’s redress payment, but SARS is blocking it. They said I need to get another tax certificate and SARS is saying I should not get anything, GEPF needs to apply for a new tax directive to do the payment.
I have been running up and down for months now and every time I get a different story.
they confirm they received the documentation and the next time I call they need the same stuff again.
Dear Veronique, unfortunately I do not assist with Redress pay-outs anymore. I suggest you visit your nearest GEPF office to clarify the issue. Regards
Good evening
I trust you are well.
I would like to know who can I can regarding pension redressed payment. My brother received his share in May 2021 and I was told that GEPF couldn’t do mine because bank verification failed. I was then asked to submit a BAS form so that they could process my share, which I did in the same year.
I have been calling GEPF and sending emails since 2021 and I am getting the same feedback that they are waiting for the finance department to inform them about the payment date. Please assist me
Thanks
Good day Fikiswa, I can follow-up with GEPF to determine what is causing the delay. I have sent you an email with further information on my services. Regards, Janene
My name is Philip Piet Gebson, I was employed at the (Administration of the White) Ministry of Roads,Work and Communications as a labour in 1977 when I was 28 years old and I bought my pension for 10 years backdated to18 years in1987. In 1989 before Namibia get independent our Pension was transfered to South Africa saying that this coming communists are coming to rob us our
money and they took our pension to South Africa without our permission. The time came to pass that I was 60 years old in 2009and must retire at a small amount of R227,827 where as I work for 42years and I was a Dozer Operator for 25 years. At present a pensioner without any benefits and from last year on March try to join this Civill Service Pension Redress Movement to fight for my Rights and I fill the forms and paid my joining fee and till now I am patiently waiting my backfeeding!
Good day Philip, please note I am a private consultant assisting clients with their claims and do not work for GEPF or any other Government Institution. Unfortunately I do not assist with matters like this and also do not have any knowledge of where you should lodge your dispute, sorry about this.