HOW TO CLAIM SSNIT BENEFIT 2024

Social Security and National Insurance Trust(SSNIT) is a recognized public Trust charged under the National Pensions Act, 2008 Act 766 with the management of Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme.

In this write-up we will be looking at how to claim your ssnit benefit but first let have a brief discussion about this trust. The Trust was established in 1972 under NRCD 127 to administer the National Social Security Scheme.

Preliminary to 1972, the Scheme was administered jointly by the then Department of Pensions and the State Insurance Corporation.  The Trust administered the Social Security Scheme as a Provident Fund Scheme until 1991 when it was converted to a Social Insurance Pension Scheme then governed by the PNDC law 247.

 Its mandate is to cater for the First Tier of the Three-Tier Pension Scheme. The Trust is currently the largest non-bank financial institution in Ghana. 

The scheme in Ghana was reformed by an Act of Parliament, Act 766 of 2008 and was implemented in January 2010 to replace all pension schemes in Ghana including Cap 30. In 2014, the National Pensions (Amendment) Act 883 was passed to amend portions of Act 766.

The primary duty of the Trust is to replace part of lost income of workers in Ghana due to Old Age, Invalidity or Death of a member where dependents receive lump sum payment. It is also responsible for the payment of Emigration benefit to a non-Ghanaian member who is leaving Ghana permanently.

BENEFITS & QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

Four (4) Benefits

• • Superannuation Pension
  • Invalidity Pension
  • Survivors Lump Sum
  • Emigration Benefit

Qualifying Conditions

• Qualifying period of 240 months (20 years) reduced to 180 months (15 years)
• Guaranteed Survivors benefits payment period increased from 12 to 15 years.
• Increase in guaranteed pension payment period from 12 to 15 years. That is 72 to 75 years
• Hazardous employment benefit – underground miner to retire at age 55 with full retirement benefit.
• Must be between 50 and 60 years to benefit.
  • It is a Defined Benefit
  • Return of contributions plus interest is given when one does not qualify for any of the two (2) benefits.
  • Established a Regulator which is the National Pensions Regulatory Authority -NPRA

HOW TO CLAIM SSNIT BENEFIT

• visit the nearest SSNIT Branch with your Smart Card or Biometric Card, letter of retirement from your employer—not mandatory.
• The SSNIT Branch will then give you a Pension Application Form to complete.
• Submit your completed Form to the SSNIT Branch.
• Provide an active bank account number that bears your name—evidence of bank account details.
• SSNIT will advise you to collect your monthly pension at your bank

How to Apply For Invalidity Pension

· Visit the nearest SSNIT Branch with a Medical report from a recognized Medical Practitioner certifying your incapacitation.
· You will be made to appear before a Medical Board for examination.
· Where the Medical Board confirms your incapacitation, you will obtain Social Security Application Forms from the Branch Office.
· Complete the forms and attach three (3) recent passport size photographs.
· Where applicable, let your employer endorse the forms.
· Submit your completed forms and photographs to the Office as early as possible.
· SSNIT will advise you to collect your monthly pension at a bank of your choice after processing the claim.

How to Apply for Survivors’ Benefit

Report the death of a member to the nearest SSNIT Branch Office with any two of the following evidences of Death including a letter from the employer.
i) Death Certificate
ii) Obituary/Poster
iii) Burial Permit
iv) Medical Certificate
v) Letter from Employer where available
vi) Funeral programme
vii) Affidavit from Chief of Village or Town

On receiving information of the death of a member, SSNIT will request the nominated dependant(s) to apply for the benefit.
A dependant(s) may call at Office to collect, complete and submit an Application Form to which he will attach the following:

FUNCTIONS OF SSNIT

• Register employers and workers
• Collect contributions
• Manage records on members
• Invest the funds of the Scheme
• Process and pay benefits to eligible members and nominated dependents

Contribution Rates under the Social Security Scheme ( Tier 1)

• – Employer – 13.0% from worker basic salary
• – Worker – 5.5% from workers basic salary
• – Total – 18.5%
• Out of the 18.5%, the employer remits 13.5% within 14 days of the ensuing month to SSNIT. 5% is remitted to the Second-Tier Mandatory Occupational Scheme.
• Subsequently, SSNIT also gives 2.5% out of the 13.5% to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for the member’s Health Insurance.

• SSNIT effectively withholds 11% for the administration of Tier 1.
• Entry Age of joining the scheme– 15 years (minimum) and 45 years (maximum) only for new entrants (age 45+ to enter mandatory 2nd tier).
• Age Exemption – 55 years and above exempted (option to join)
• Minimum and Maximum contributions indicated and reviewed periodically.
• Investment of Funds – investment policy, external investments permitted.