What is the Children's Pension Benefit?

The Children's Pension Benefit is a monthly pension that is payable until the maximum age of a qualifying child. The maximum age may be chosen as 18 or 21 years.

The maximum age will increase to 23 years where a child is enrolled as a full-time student at a recognised tertiary institution at the date of the member's death. The amount of cover may vary for different membership categories and will escalate annually at a chosen rate.

Maximum cover

• A maximum of four children can be covered as part of this benefit.

• The combined claim for the Spouse's Pension Benefit and Children's Pension Benefit may not exceed 100% of the member's fund salary.

A member's cover will end based on the following criteria (whichever comes first): 

• The member leaves the employer.

• The member turns 70 years of age.

The member receives a benefit from any retirement fund that his or her employer operates or participates in for the benefit of their employees.

Child (Glossary): The definition of a child is strictly applied as set out below or as per the rules of the fund. 

A child in relation to a member means

• a natural child,

• a legally adopted child or

• a member's spouse's child who

• is not yet married or

• has not yet turned 23 years (or 25 years, if totally dependent on the member as a result of a physical or mental disability).

An unborn child who is born within nine months of a member's death is also covered under this definition.