What is National Social Security Fund (NSSF)?

The National Social Security Fund is a friendly service organization which exists for the public good. It offers social protection to all Kenyan workers. We provide social security protection to workers in the formal and informal sectors. We register members, receive their contributions, manage funds of the scheme, process and ultimately pay out benefits to eligible members or dependents. The NSSF deals with two funds namely, the Pension Fund and the Provident Fund.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) was established in 1965 through an Act of Parliament Cap 258 of the Laws of Kenya. The Fund initially operated as a Department of the Ministry of Labour until 1987 when the NSSF Act was amended transforming the Fund into a State Corporation under the Management of a Board of Trustees.

The Act was established as a mandatory national scheme whose main objective was to provide basic financial security benefits to Kenyan upon retirement. The Fund was set up as a Provident Fund providing benefits in the form of a lump sum.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act, No.45 of 2013 was assented to on 24th December, 2013 and commenced on 10th January, 2014 thereby transforming NSSF from a Provident Fund to a Pension Scheme to which every Kenyan with an income shall contribute a percentage of his/her gross earnings so as to be guaranteed basic compensation in case of permanent disability, basic assistance to needy defendants in case of death and a monthly life pension upon retirement.

NSSF Membership Eligibility

Kenyan employees who are 18 years or above in age both employed and self employed are eligible to register in NSSF and make contributions. Employees register for the Employed NSSF Membership and self employed Kenyans register for Voluntary (Self Employed) Member.

List of NSSF Benefits Offered:

The member or claimant must apply for benefits/grants by submitting the corresponding applications. All the application forms are available online to download and it must be presented for processing at the branch offices.

Age/Retirement Benefit

Eligibility: Members are eligible for this benefit when they reach the age of 55 years, or when they ultimately retire from regular paid employment.

How to apply: Visit your nearest NSSF office with:

  • A certified copy of retirement letter OR certificate of service OR termination letter

  • NSSF Card

  • National Identity Card

You will be advised thereafter on the steps you will follow to complete your benefit application.

Withdrawal Benefit

Eligibility:Members are eligible for this benefit if they are at least 50 years of age and they have retired from regular paid employment. A member would opt to apply for this benefit (over the age/retirement benefit) if they retire before attaining 55 years of age.

How to apply: Visit your nearest NSSF office with:

  • A certified copy of retirement letter OR certificate of service OR termination letter

  • NSSF Card

  • National Identity Card

You will be advised thereafter on the steps you will follow to complete your benefit application.

Survivors Benefit

Eligibility This benefit is payable to the survivor(s)/dependant(s) relative(s) of a deceased member. The dependant relatives qualify for this benefit in the following order:

  • The husband/wife of the deceased member.

  • All children irrespective of age or gender (if the husband/wife of the deceased member is also deceased, or if the deceased member was a single parent).

  • The parents of the deceased (if the deceased member was not married and had no children)

  • Sisters/brothers of the deceased (if the deceased was single, had no children, and both parents are deceased)

  • The guardian to the children of the deceased member (where both the parents are deceased and all the deceased members’ children are minors)

  • An applicant who has letters of administration (where all dependants are exhausted)

How to apply:

  • Complete the Application for Survivor’s Benefit Form

  • Get your local administration (i.e., the administration in your home district) to endorse form SF/BN/SB/002A of your application

  • Submit the completed application form + the required documents (in person) to your nearest NSSF office

Required documents/ Standard processing requirements:

  • Deceased members’ original membership card

  • Photocopy of the deceased members National Identity Card

  • Original death certificate of the member and any beneficiary who is deceased

  • Certified copy of the marriage certificate or other evidence of marriage in case the deceased was married

Invalidity Benefit

Eligibility: This benefit is payable to:

  • Members who are certified to be permanently incapable of working because of physical or mental disability.

  • Members who are at least 50 years of age and suffer from a partial incapacity of a permanent nature that prevents them from undertaking employment.

How to apply:

  • Complete an Application for Invalidity Benefit Form

  • The application form should be endorsed by a qualified doctor at the hospital/clinic you attend(ed)

  • Submit the completed application form + the required documents (in person) to your nearest NSSF office.

Required documents/ Standard processing requirements:

  • A certified copy retirement (on medical grounds) letter

  • Medical/treatment records from the hospital you attend(ed)

  • Bank account number and bank name and address

  • A certified copy of your retirement letter OR certificate of service OR termination letter

NOTE: You will be examined for confirmation of your invalidity by the NSSF Fund’s appointed doctor after completion and submission of the form.

Funeral Grant

Eligibility: This benefit is payable to:

  • The grant is payable to a dependant of a deceased member. This dependant must be nominated by the family and must be identified by local administration.

  • The deceased member must have been a member of the fund who made at least three (3) monthly contributions to NSSF.

  • The deceased/beneficiary has not yet been paid his/her benefits.

How to apply:

  • Submit the required documents in-person to your nearest NSSF office.

Required documents/ Standard processing requirements:

  • Certified documentation from your local administration indicating that you are the dependant nominated by the family to obtain the grant

  • Copy of the deceased’s identity card

  • Copy of the deceased’s membership card

PLEASE NOTE:

  • This is money given by NSSF to assist in the burial of a deceased contributor. It is not deducted from the deceased’s account. The amount payable for this grant currently stands at Kshs 2500

  • The grant must be paid within three (3) months of a member death

Tax Relief

In Kenya, tax relief is granted on a monthly basis. There are basically two types of tax relief: personal relief and insurance relief.

Peronal Relief

Every resident individual is entitled to a personal relief of Ksh. 16,896 per annum (Kshs.1,408 per month). Personal relief represents the amount which can be deducted by an eligible person from tax payable by him. When an employee has multiple employers, he is entitled to a relief from only one employer (Income Tax Act, section 30).

Insurance Relief

Premiums paid for education policy, health policy or life insurance can be deducted from tax payable, provided that the employee has proof of the payment to the policy. If the policy is surrendered before its maturity all the relief granted to the policy holder is repayable to KRA. The deduction for the insurance relief is at a 15% of premiums paid subject to a maximum KES 5,000 per month and/or KES 60,000 per annum (Income Tax Act, section 31).

Insurance relief applies to the following policies:

  • Life Insurance

  • Education Policy with a maturity period of at least ten years

  • Health Insurance

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