GIPF On Pension Payout Concerns

THIS is our response to a letter from a Worried Pensioner that appeared in The Namibian newspaper on October 8 titled: ‘No To GIPF’s Smart Card’.

The worried pensioner said he/she is concerned about the following:•The new system would require that pensioners queue up at post offices to receive their money in cash and be attacked and robbed by thugs;•the new system would require pensioners to take their cash and queue up again at their banks to deposit the cash; and•the new system would be disadvantageous and costly due to cash handling fees. We understand the concerns of the pensioners and we appreciate their efforts of airing their views. We would like to inform our dear pensioners that the biometric identification system has more advantages for pensioners and that it is safe. This is how the new system will work: The GIPF will pay monthly pensions to Nampost. For the pensioner to access his/her money, the pensioner will be required to load her/his money on the Smart Card with a thumbprint on a monthly basis. This is to be done at any GIPF office, Nampost, or any of the shops countrywide that accept Smart Cards such as Woermann & Brock Supermarkets , Fruit & Veg City, Pupkewitz & Sons, Pick ‘n Pay, etc. Kindly get our booklet at any GIPF Office titled: GIPF’s Biometric Thumbprint Identification to see the list of shops that accept Smart Cards. Once the card is loaded, the owner can withdraw money with it at Nampost or can purchase goods with it at the shops that accept a Smart Card. The pensioner can arrange that his/her money to be transferred to any commercial bank of his/her choice where they can use their ATM card. They must however load their money on the card to access the money. In cases where a pensioner cannot go in person to load their money, they can assign another person to do it on their behalf. The GIPF will visit the owner of the card periodically to make sure that they are alive. The new system is more beneficial compared to the paper-based verification system that we used before and therefore pensioners should not be concerned about the safety of their money. The transaction fees will be low and affordable. People to be registered and to receive the Smart Cards are those who receive an income from GIPF such as pensioners, widows, guardians and people receiving a disability income from GIPF. We decided to use this system to eliminate fraud and to make sure that money is paid to the right person. If we do not verify the existence of the pensioner, GIPF would end up paying money to ‘ghost pensioners’ whose relatives will continue receiving money of somebody who passed away long ago. This surely is not fair to honest pensioners who worked hard for their pensions.We are warning people who are receiving money from GIPF in a fraudulent matter that legal steps will be taken against them.Maria DaxGM: MarketingGIPF