Ongwediva fair helps GIPF reach out

The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair has become an essential platform for the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) in reaching its members. The largest pension fund in the country, the GIPF typically faces an assortment of challenges in keeping its members informed about requirements and benefits. “Most pensioners, such as nurses and teachers who retired in the 1980s, were not aware that they had to claim their pension contribution made to GIPF while they were civil servants, and were under the impression they only qualified for the old-age pension,” GIPF spokesperson Robyn Nakaambo said yesterday. “Also, this platform enabled us to enlighten our members about claiming after the death of a civil servant and what their benefits are,” she said, hailing the Ongwediva trade fair’s attraction of a diverse audience. Commenting on this year’s event, she said the fund was able to shed light on its new housing loan scheme and how members can get involved. “The level of success was phenomenal. We created platforms for our members to make sure they are on our system, and we also encouraged them to question their benefits,” Nakaambo said. Communicating such information is crucial, especially given such stringent rules as pension payouts being suspended should the identity of the beneficiary not be verified three times a year. Verification is required once between November and February each year, as well as once between March and June, and finally between July and October. “This can be done at any GIPF office, or at your nearest NamPost office,” Nakaambo said. “This process is one in which individuals use their fingerprints to verify their identity, thus confirming that they are still alive,” she added. Thanking GIPF members for their support during the Ongwediva fair, she invited them to visit the fund’s stand at the Windhoek Agricultural Show too.