The Ghana Education Service Occupational Pension Scheme (GESOPS) is a Tier-2 pension scheme registered and regulated by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority under the Pensions Act, 2008, (Act 766) as amended.
The Scheme’s membership is drawn from employees of the Ghana Education Service, with members belonging to one of the Unions in the educational sector.
GESOPS is managed by a Board of Trustees with representation from relevant institutions such as the Ministries of Education, Finance, the Attorney General’s Department, the various Unions and an Independent Trustee.
Like all Tier-2 Pension Schemes, GESOPS receives five (5) out of the 18.5% monthly social security contributions made on worker’s behalf.
In today’s guide, we will walk you through the 5 simple steps to follow to claim your GESOPS tier-2 pension benefits.
How to claim GESOPS tier-2 pension contribution
Step 1
- Obtain Claim Form from GLICO Pensions/Union Office/GES District Office for completion
- COMPLETE Claim Form and add all required documents and submit them to the GES “SUPERVISOR” (Headmaster / District or Circuit Supervisor or for TEWU, HR Officer, Accountant/Senior Staff for ENDORSEMENT
- GES “SUPERVISOR” receives and endorses form, and returns them to member
Step 2
- Submit endorsed form along with required documents to Union Office for onward submission to GESOPS
- Union Office receives claim documents and forwards them to GESOPS Secretariat for further processing
Step 3
- GESOPS Secretariat receives claim documents and reviews them for Completeness and Accuracy
- GLICo Pensions receives claim documents; processes claim and submits Benefit Requisition Slip to GESOPS Secretariat for Authorization for payment
Step 4
- GESOPS Secretariat receives Benefit Requisition Slip and issues Authorization Note to Custodian to pay beneficiary
- Custodian receives Authorization Note, transfers benefits amount into beneficiary’s account and issues Proof of Payment to GESOPS Secretariat
Step 5
- GESOPS Secretariat receives Proof of Payment and informs GLICo Pensions via email
- GLICo Pensions receives Email from GESOPS Secretariat and informs Beneficiary via SMS Alert
Supporting documents needed to claim normal/early retirement benefits
- Pension Advice from SSNIT
- Letter from Employer (GES) on your retirement
- Valid National ID
- Copy of SSNIT Card
- Bank and Branch details
- Claim Form (Completed)
Requirement for claiming a survivor’s benefit
- Proof of Death (Death Certificate or Medical Certificate of cause of Death)
- Letter from Employer (GES) stating that the member is deceased.
- A valid national ID card (SSNIT Card, Voter ID, National ID, Driver License Passport) of the survivor’s beneficiary(ies).
- Affidavit by Head of Family (Confirming identity of Dependents/Beneficiaries)
- Beneficiary(ies) bank account details
Requirement to access invalidity benefits
- Medical report confirming member’s disability
- Letter from Ghana Education Service stating that the member has been relieved of his normal duties
- Valid National ID Card
- Claim Form (Completed)
Taking your benefits as you emigrate from Ghana
What you need to access your GESOPS Tier-2 pension benefits if you’re emigrating from Ghana.
- A Valid National ID Card
- SSNIT ID
- A statutory declaration stating that you are permanently emigrating from Ghana and the date you intend to emigrate
- Claim Form (Completed)
The 2 pension categories in Ghana
By virtue of Act 766 as amended by Act 833 of 2014, workers in Ghana have been divided into two categories for the purposes of pension contribution and payment. GESOPS members fall in category 1 below:
- Persons aged below 50 years as at 1st January 2010 who have been migrated fully onto the new 3-Tier pension regime.
- Persons aged 50 and above as at 1st January 2010 who remain on the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme governed by PNDC Law 247.
Payment of benefits to retiring GESOPS members
Upon retirement of a member, an Interim TPFA Benefit, together with the full Regular Benefit will be paid. A GESOPS member’s account will remain active until the TPFA reconciliation exercise is completed, the residual TPFA Benefit credited to the member’s account and finally paid.
If you are an employee of the Ghana Education Service and you have not yet created an account on the Ghana Education Service Occupational Pension Scheme platform, kindly follow the link HERE to do so. >>>LINK<<<
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
