When a person who has been contributing to SSNIT (Social Security and National Insurance Trust) dies, their dependents are entitled to survivor benefits. But many Ghanaian families never claim these benefits because they don't know the process. Here's exactly how to do it.
Who Qualifies for Survivor Benefits?
SSNIT pays survivor benefits to the following, in order of priority:
- Nominated beneficiaries — people the contributor named in their SSNIT records
- Surviving spouse (legally married)
- Children under 18 (or under 25 if in full-time education)
- Disabled children (any age, if dependent on the deceased)
- Parents (if they were dependent on the deceased)
What Benefits Are Available?
If the contributor was actively working (not yet retired):
- Lump sum benefit: Paid to the nominated beneficiary or estate
- The amount depends on the contributor's average salary and number of months contributed
- Minimum: equivalent of the total contributions plus interest
If the contributor was already receiving a pension:
- Survivor's pension: Spouse receives a percentage of the pension for life (or until remarriage)
- Children's pension: Each eligible child receives a percentage until age 18 (or 25 if in school)
- Lump sum: If the pensioner received pension for less than 12 months, there's an additional lump sum payment
Documents Required
To claim SSNIT survivor benefits, gather:
- Death certificate (original)
- SSNIT membership card/number of the deceased
- Marriage certificate (if claiming as spouse)
- Birth certificates of beneficiary children
- Ghana Card of the claimant
- Passport photos (4 copies)
- Letters of Administration — required if there's no nominated beneficiary, or if the claim is contested
- Employer's confirmation letter (if the deceased was still employed)
Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the nearest SSNIT branch and request the survivor benefit claim forms
- Complete the forms and attach all required documents
- Submit to SSNIT — they'll verify the contributor's records
- SSNIT processes the claim — usually 2-4 weeks for straightforward cases
- Payment — usually by bank transfer to the claimant's account
Common Problems and Solutions
Problem: No Nominated Beneficiary on Record
Many contributors never update their SSNIT beneficiary records. If there's no nomination, you'll need Letters of Administration from the High Court to claim.
Problem: Multiple Claimants
If multiple people claim the benefit (e.g., multiple wives or estranged children), SSNIT will require Letters of Administration to determine the rightful beneficiaries. The court decides who gets what.
Problem: Employer Never Remitted Contributions
Some employers deduct SSNIT from salaries but never pay it to SSNIT. If this happened:
- File a complaint with SSNIT against the employer
- SSNIT can pursue the employer for unpaid contributions
- Benefits are still payable based on what should have been contributed
Problem: Contributor Had Less Than 12 Months of Contributions
If the deceased contributed for less than 180 months (15 years), the family receives a lump sum instead of a monthly pension. The amount is based on total contributions plus interest.
Important Tips
- Claim as soon as possible. There's no official deadline, but delays can complicate things.
- Update your own SSNIT records. Make sure your beneficiary nominations are current.
- Keep the SSNIT number accessible. Family members often don't know the deceased's SSNIT number.
- Check the SSNIT online portal (ssnit.org.gh) — you can verify contribution records.
If you're dealing with a deceased person's estate, our free Estate Administration Guide will give you a complete roadmap. Learn more about estate settlement without a will.