Organisation : University of Cape Town (UCT)
Portal Name : UCT Retirement Fund Portal (UCTRF)
Service Name : Disability Cover
Country : South Africa
Website : https://uctrf.co.za/uctrf/disability-benefits
What is UCTRF Disability Cover?
If you become disabled you may receive a lump sum disability benefit and/or a monthly disability income benefit. The benefits payable on your disablement are provided for by separate insurance policies that fall outside the ambit of the UCTRF. The UCTRF Board, however, govern this separate arrangement, as it is associated to the UCTRF.
Related / Similar Facility : UCTRF Resignation, Dismissal (or) Retrenchment Benefits
Types of UCTRF Disability Cover
Disability Income Cover
Disability means you are not able to continue with your everyday job due to injury or illness. This can be temporary (where you cannot work for a few months), or permanent (where your chances of recovery are small).
The disability income benefit is only paid once you have been disabled for a period of 3 continuous months. You will need to rely on your sick leave to “bridge” this 3-month period to the greatest extent possible unless the Insurer waives this waiting period based on the severity of disablement.
If, after the expiry of this 3-month period, the Insurer considers you still to be unable to perform your work with your Employer in your current occupation, you will be entitled to a monthly income continuation benefit calculated as follows:
** 50% of the first R23,000 monthly salary; plus
** 40% of the next R40,250 monthly salary; plus
** 30% of the balance.
Furthermore, 18% of your CoE will be contributed to the UCTRF. After a further 12 months (i.e. 15-months after you became disabled), the Insurer will reassess your disability, but this time against the criteria of whether you are able to perform your job, or any similar job that you could do by virtue of your experience, training, education and age, with any company. The Income Disability Benefit is tax free (but the Premium is taxed).
Lump Sum Disability Cover
** In addition to the disability income benefit, a lump sum disability benefit may be paid once you have been disabled for a period of 3 continuous months.
** You will qualify for the lump sum disability benefit if, after the expiry of this 3-month period, the Insurer considers that you are totally and permanently unable to perform your job, or any similar job that you could do, with any company, considering your experience, training, education and age.
** The benefit is equal to 1 x your annual CoE. If you receive such a benefit and subsequently die (whilst in receipt of a disability income benefit), no further benefit is payable from the separate Death and Disability Policy unless you elected a higher separate death benefit (in addition to the compulsory 1 x CoE) prior to becoming disabled, and continued paying Premiums in respect of the additional separate death cover. In such a case your separate death benefit will be reduced by the lump sum disability benefit already paid.
** The lump sum disability cover reduces by 20% a year in the 5 years prior to age 65.
FAQ On UCTRF Disability Cover
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ On UCTRF Disability Cover
Under what circumstances does this benefit cease?
If, at any time after the benefit has commenced, the Insurer considers you fit to return to work (against the definition of “own occupation” for months 3 to 21 and thereafter “own or similar occupation”), the benefit will cease and you must return to work.
The benefit will also cease if you were to die or at the end of the year in which you reach age 65 (or age 60 if you have been receiving a disability income benefit from before 2007), at which time you would receive your Retirement Benefits.
Does the benefit increase?
Each year, on 1 January, your disability income benefit will be increased by the lower of inflation or 7%.
What happens to my UCTRF membership during the period I receive a disability income benefit?
Importantly, you remain a member of the UCTRF whilst you are receiving a disability income benefit. If you die, your dependants would be entitled to a death benefit. If you retire, you will be entitled to your UCTRF Retirement Benefit.
This means that, whilst you are receiving a disability income benefit, the Employer will contribute 18% of CoE to the UCTRF for you. (This only applies to members who become disability claimants on or after 1 October 2021. The contribution rate in respect of a member who became a disability claimant prior to 1 October 2021 will depend on the rules in place when the member became a disability claimant.)