Death benefit claim
Death can occur as a result of natural or unnatural causes.
Natural causes refer to internal factors such as medical conditions, illnesses or diseases. Examples of natural causes are cancer and diabetes.
Unnatural causes refer to external factors such as trauma from an accident. Examples of unnatural causes are suicide and a motor vehicle accident.
If a valid death claim is admitted, the claim amount will be paid to the following people in the following order:
- The cessionary (if any)
- The beneficiary for proceeds (if any)
- The policyholder, if different to the insured life
- The deceased estate, if the insured life and policyholder is the same person
Death benefit claim requirements
- A copy of the death certificate (BI-5).
- A copy of the deceased insured life’s identity document or birth certificate (if younger than 18 years).
- A copy of the notice of death / still birth (DHA-1663) obtainable from the doctor who declared the death.
- The death claim form (CLAIM001E)open_in_new completed and signed by the claimant or authorised representative of the claimant.
- If death is due to unnatural causes, the unnatural death claim form (CLAIM003E) open_in_new is also required and must be completed by the Investigating Police Officer.
- The medical certificate for death claim form (CLAIM002E)open_in_new(required only if the benefit started less than 3 years from the claim event date).
- The POPIA consent form (CLAIM026)open_in_new completed and signed by the claimant or authorised representative of the claimant.
- Proof of banking details, in the name of the claimant (natural person, minor, deceased estate, legal entity), not older than three months on a bank letterhead or that has a bank stamp on it.
And the following additional requirements (whichever is applicable):
If the claimant is the deceased estate
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- Verification documents - Executor (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification of name and legal form - Letter of executorship or Article 18(3) letter of administration
If the claimant is a cessionary
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- Verification documents - authorised representative (Green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- A written instruction from the cessionary confirming the bank account to use for the claim payment as well as proof thereof in the form of a bank statement not older than three months on a bank letterhead or that has a bank stamp on it
- Payment to a bank or cessionary claim form (CLAIM029E)open_in_new
If the claimant is a minor
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- A copy of the legal guardian's identity document
- If the legal guardian is a biological parent, we require a copy of the minor’s unabridged birth certificate, which reflects both parent's names
- If the legal guardian is not the biological parent, official proof of guardianship as issued by the Master of the High Court or Children's Court and a copy of the minor’s birth certificate
If the claimant is a trust
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- Verification documents - trust beneficiary (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification documents - all active trustees (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification documents - founder of the trust (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Trust deed or founding document
- A letter from the Master's Office confirming registration of the trust
If the claimant is a private company
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- Verification documents of managers (Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director), (green bar-coded, smart ID cart, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification documents of all directors and all shareholders with at least 25% interest (green bar-coded, smart ID cart, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Copy of the certificate of incorporation (private company documents)
- A copy of the shareholder's register or a certified copy of the organisational structure and explanation of ownership
If the claimant is a closed corporation
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- Verification documents of all active members (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Copy of the certificate of incorporation (CK documents)
- A copy of the shareholder's register or a certified copy of the organisational structure and explanation of ownership
If the claimant is a partnership
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- Verification of identity of all partners in the partnership (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification documents of persons who exercise executive control over partnership (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Copy of the partnership agreement
If the claimant is a foreign company
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- IDs of managers for its affairs in RSA (Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director)(valid passport, United Nations certified travel document/passport, valid travel document, refugee document (valid for 2 years only)) OR (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Verification documents of all directors and shareholders with at least 25% interest (valid passport, United Nations certified travel document/passport, valid travel document, refugee document (valid for 2 years only)) OR (green bar-coded, smart ID card, valid driver's licence or valid passport)
- Copy of the certificate of incorporation (foreign company documents)
- A copy of the shareholder's register or a certified copy of the organisational structure and explanation of ownership
If the claimant is a foreign national
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- Verification documents (United Nations certified travel document/passport, valid passport, valid travel document, refugee document (valid for 2 years only))
- A copy of the claimant's naturalisation certificate, if born in South Africa
- Written confirmation if the claimant never lived in South Africa and was not a South African resident
- Form MP336 (b) (an application to the South African Reserve Bank for foreign capital allowance) completed in full and signed by the claimant who has emigrated (CLAIM013Eopen_in_new)
- Indemnity form completed by the foreign claimant (CLAIM025Eopen_in_new)
- The name of the bank and branch where the claimant banked in South Africa before departure
We may require additional information for medical requirements and legal entities.
Contact details to submit a death benefit claim
[email protected]
Fax: +27 12 675 3947