We know you want to keep your family safe at all times, which is why we created Family Benefit for you and your employees. In the event of a family member's death, a lump sum is paid out to guarantee financial security in a time of grief.

We want to provide members with as much information as possible in order for them to better understand what Family Benefit members are covered for should a death in the family occur.

Members are covered as follows:

• Cover is provided for a member and his or her immediate family (1 spouse and up to 5 children aged 21 or younger).

• Children with mental or physical disabilities who are fully dependent on the member will be covered as long as the member is eligible for the Family Benefit.

• A claim can be submitted up to 12 months after the death of the member, or someone in his or her immediate family.

• This benefit is offered as part of our Corporate Selection Unapproved Group Life Plan and Corporate Insured Series Plan.

The value a member is covered for is as follows:

Cover may not exceed 45 times the standard scale (below) or R45 000 for the main member.

Main member: R1 000
Spouse: R1 000
Child older than 14: R1 000
Child between 6 and 13: R500
Child younger than 6: R250

This also includes cover for an unborn child or a stillbirth. However, the pregnancy must be at least 26 weeks developed before the foetus is a legally recognised person. A stillbirth must be registered, and necessary documentation will need to be submitted for the claim.

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

• The employer participation is cancelled.

• The member leaves the employer.

• The member reaches the Benefit Termination Age, as outlined in the Employer Participation Schedule.

• The member leaves the plan membership.

• The member turns 70 years of age.

• The death of the main member.

Are there additional member benefits and services?

The following services are offered by an external vendor when the Family Benefit is selected on a Corporate Selection or Corporate Insured Series Plan:

1. Body repatriation

This service will cover transportation of the deceased's body within South Africa to any one of the following countries. It also covers transportation of the deceased's body from any one of these countries back to South Africa:

• Botswana

• Lesotho

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Zimbabwe

• Swaziland

The above service is available to the member, his or her spouse and up to a maximum of four dependants, provided the deceased's body needs to be transported more than 100km.

2. Additional services include the following: 

• Assistance in obtaining death certificates

• Assistance with referrals for autopsy/pathology

• Consideration of religious customs

• Recommendation of undertaker/mortuaries

• Death-related legal assistance

• Bereavement and trauma counselling

• Claim administration assistance

• A 24-hour client and claims assistance service

• 15% discount on AVBOB's or Doves' Comprehensive Funeral Services (Discount may not exceed R2 000 and will be based on the prevailing pricing detailed in AVBOB/Doves' price list on the date of the arrangement of the funeral.)

This offer includes the following:

• Transferring the deceased's body to AVBOB/Doves' premises

• Refrigeration and care of the deceased's body

• Registration of death

• Writing or engraving of a name plate

• Provision of a coffin

• Supply of up to 100 funeral pamphlets

• Local telephone calls

• Placement of funeral/cremation notice in the newspaper

• Use of a hearse

• Use of a grass carpet, lowering machine, grave tents and 10 chairs

The above services are offered to help a member's family as they deal with the death and burial of a loved one. Support is offered through a call centre, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.