While speaking on Saturday, June 7, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) was being mismanaged and encouraged Kenyans to withdraw their funds.
However, it has been a common assumption by most employed Kenyans that you have to be retired to access your NSSF funds as retirement benefits. So, is it possible to withdraw your NSSF funds?
The short answer is yes, but several conditions have to be met, including if you have left employment, emigrated, or become permanently incapacitated.
In this article, we will deep dive into all those eligible to make withdrawals and how they can go about receiving the amounts they have accumulated based on their contributions to the fund and interest earned.
In a nutshell, there are five benefit withdrawals offered by NSSF, which can all be accessed by visiting an NSSF office with the necessary documents for each criterion. These categories include retirement age benefit, withdrawal benefit, invalidity benefit, emigration benefit and survivor's benefit.
Age/Retirement Benefit
This is arguably the most popular scheme, with the eligibility criteria being when you get to 55 years of age or when you ultimately retire from regular employment.
To apply for withdrawal of benefits from this category, you will need to visit the nearest NSSF office with several documents, including a certified copy of your retirement letter, certificate of service or termination letter.
You will also need your NSSF membership card, national identity card/passport/alien ID and bank details for Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT).
You will then be issued with the appropriate application forms and advised on the steps to take in order to complete the benefits application.
Withdrawal Benefit
Once you hit 50 years old, you can retire and seek to withdraw your NSSF benefits.
For this, you will also need to visit an NSSF office armed with a certified copy of your retirement letter or certificate of service or termination letter, your NSSF membership card, national identity card/passport/alien ID and bank details for EFT.
You will then be issued with the appropriate application forms and advised on the steps to take in order to complete the benefits application.
Invalidity Benefit
This benefit package is for members who are certified to be permanently incapable of working because of physical or mental disability.
It can also apply to those who are at least 50 years of age and suffer from a partial incapacity of a permanent nature that prevents them from undertaking employment.
Aside from bringing the official documents outlined in previous packages to the nearest NSSF office, those seeking to make withdrawals from this category are expected to also bring a medical or treatment report from the hospital you attend(ed).
You will then be issued with application forms, after which you will also be examined for confirmation of your invalidity by the Fund’s appointed doctor after completion and submission of the form.
Emigration Benefit
Those eligible to apply are Kenyans emigrating from Kenya to a country which is not a member of the East African Community (EAC), without the intention of returning to reside in Kenya.
You will also need to visit the nearest NSSF office with the core documents, as well as other documentation confirming your emigration status.
These include a VISA as evidence of Country of Migration (outside EAC), a sworn Affidavit declaring permanent immigration (for Kenyan Citizens) and a travelling ticket.
You will then be issued the appropriate application forms and advised on the steps to take in order to complete the benefits application.
Survivor's Benefit
These are the NSSF benefits of a deceased person issued to their dependants or relatives. The dependent relatives qualify for this benefit in order of importance, starting from the spouse of the deceased.
If the spouse is also deceased or was a single parent, all the children, irrespective of age or gender, are next in line to claim these benefits.
If the deceased had no spouse or children, the parents of the deceased can seek to withdraw the benefits, followed by the deceased's siblings if the parents are not alive.
Where both parents are deceased and all the deceased members’ children are minors, the guardian of the children of the deceased member can claim the benefits.
Lastly, an applicant who has letters of administration can withdraw the benefits when all dependants are exhausted.
To access the benefits, one needs to bring an original death certificate of the member, a photocopy of the deceased member's Identity Card (if available), the claimant's National ID Card/Passport/ Alien ID, a letter from the County Administration confirming dependents and the NSSF member number of the deceased to an NSSF office.
Directions on the way forward can then be issued.
