All about dependants

Who may qualify as your dependants on the Scheme? 

More people can qualify as dependants on GEMS than ever before. The following people may qualify as your dependants on the Scheme:

• Husband, wife or partner
• Ex-husband or ex-wife if required by a divorce settlement
• Children (biological, adopted, step or foster) under the age of 21. To be registered as a child dependant, a child must be under the age of 21 and not receive a yearly income that is more than the maximum Government Social Pension
• Children (biological, adopted, step or foster), over the age of 21 who are:
  • not yet 28 years old and are full-time students registered at a recognised tertiary institution and financially dependent on the principal member; or
  • mentally or physically disabled and therefore financially dependent on the principal member
• Parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandparents-in-law - if they are financially dependent on the principal member
• Grandchildren and great-grandchildren - if they are financially dependent on the principal member
• Siblings (brothers and sisters), half-siblings, step-siblings and in-law siblings - if they are financially dependent on the principal member
• Nephews and nieces - if they are financially dependent on the principal member.

All dependants who are 21 years and older must not earn more than the annual maximum Government Social Pension amount, excluding partner and spouse-type relationships. To find out the current Government Social Pension amount, please visit the South African Social Security Agency website at www.sassa.gov.za or you can contact them on 0800 601 011.

For dependants who are 21 years and older to be registered they must not be permanently employed.

For most of the dependant categories outlined above, an affidavit that proves financial dependency is required. Please see below for more information.

How to register your dependants

To register a dependant, we need:

• The application form with the dependant section completed.
• Certified copies of identity documents, birth certificates of the dependants and marriage certificates of the spouse if your surnames are different.
• Any documents that apply according to the list below. In most cases, before we will register the dependant, we will need an affidavit that proves financial dependency. An affidavit is a written declaration made under oath in front of someone legally authorised to administer an oath (for example, a Commissioner of oaths, a police officer or at a GEMS walk-in centre). You can click here to obtain the affidavits. You can also visit your nearest GEMS walk-in centre or call us on 0860 00 4367.

Detailed list of requirements and documents needed to register a dependant

Husband or wife

• For a customary marriage, we need an affidavit from the principal member confirming the obligation towards the
  husband or wife.
• We need a certified copy of the marriage certificate if married and the surname of the husband or wife is different from the principal member's surname.
  

Ex-husband or ex-wife

• We need a copy of the legal obligation to provide medical support as required by the divorce settlement.

Partner

• We need an affidavit (completed by the principal member, partner and a witness) confirming that the dependant is the
  principal member's life partner.

Children (biological, adopted, step or foster) under the age of 21

• If the child's surname is different to that of the principal member, the principal member must complete an affidavit stating the reason for the difference and confirming the obligation towards the child.

Children (biological, adopted, step or foster), over the age of 21

• If the child is a student and not yet 28 years old, we need:
  • Proof of full-time registration at a recognised tertiary institution.
  • Affidavit from the principal member confirming financial dependency.
    
• If the child is totally dependent due to mental or physical disability, we need:
  • Proof of disability from a medical practitioner (medical assessment report to be completed by a medical
    practitioner); and
  • An affidavit from the principal member confirming financial dependency and that the child is not in a state institution.
    
• If the child is neither a student nor disabled, we need:
  • An affidavit from the principal member confirming financial dependency. Remember: In this instance, you will pay adult rates for this dependant.

Parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandparents-in-law

• We need an affidavit from the principal member confirming financial dependency of the dependants.
• Parents-in-law and grandparents-in-law may only be registered if the husband, wife or partner is also registered as a dependant.

Grandchildren and great grandchildren

• They may be registered as dependants:
  • If the principal member or the husband or wife receives a child support grant; or
  • If the principal member or husband or wife gives us a sworn affidavit that he or she takes primary responsibility for meeting the daily needs of the child.
• We need an affidavit to be completed by the principal member and biological parent, where applicable confirming financial dependency of the grandchild on the principal member.
• If the parent of the child is also registered as a dependant, an affidavit is only needed from the principal member for
  the grandchild or great grandchild.

Siblings (brothers or sisters), half-siblings, step-siblings and siblings-in-law

• We need an affidavit (to be completed by the principal member) confirming financial dependency of the sibling on the principal member.
• The husband, wife or partner must be registered to add their siblings as dependants.

Nephews and nieces (including in-laws)

• We need an affidavit confirming financial dependency of nephews and nieces on the principal member. The affidavit must
  be completed by the member and the sibling, where applicable.
• If the parent of the child is also registered as a dependant, an affidavit is only needed from the principal member for
  the niece or nephew.

Newborn

Registering your newborn in time is very important!

• You must send a completed newborn registration form and a certified copy of the birth certificate to the Scheme within 60 days from the birth of your child. If your newborn's surname is different from yours, you must provide the Scheme with an affidavit confirming that the child is yours.
• Contributions for your child will be due from the first day of the month after the month in which he/she was born if you register your child within 60 days from the birth date. If you do not register your newborn in time, we will not be able to register your child as a dependant on the Scheme from the date of their birth. This means that we will not cover any expenses related to your newborn's birth and you will have to pay these costs out of your own pocket.

Yearly review of dependants

• Every year, the Scheme reviews whether dependants still qualify to receive benefits according to the Scheme Rules.
• Each year, principal members must give us proof of financial dependency for all dependants over the age of 21.
• Disabled dependants and dependants (parents, parents in law, partners) who are over 65 years (pensioners) only need to give supporting documents to the Scheme once.

The following table provides details about full-time students qualifying to be dependants:

• If ALL the required documents (as specified on the eligibility review letters sent to members) are not received before the end of the birth month, we will remove the dependant from the Scheme. We could also change the rates you pay for your dependant from child to adults rates.
• If documents for a newborn are provided late, the dependant will not be covered by the Scheme from the date of birth. Required information must be received.