What can I do if I was medically boarded and am receiving 60% of my pensionable salary, but I believe I should be receiving 75%?

The long answer

I am afraid it is true that your employer, Nedbank, chooses what percentage of pensionable salary will be paid by Old Mutual up to 75%. This is called “customizing” to make it affordable for the employer. It could be 50%, 60% or 75%, depending on the affordability of the policy.

So you should ask for a copy of the Disability Income policy document from Nedbank’s HR department to check what the percentage is, and if the 60% was a specific agreement for your specific case, or if it was quoted as a general rule.

It may be that the 60% was based on length of service. Some funds give higher disability percentages (such as 75%) to employees with more than 10 years of pensionable service. The 60% may also be to do with early retirement rules.

You should also check what the definition of disability that applies to your cover is. 

You could also request an interview with HR to tell them that you aren’t managing to come out on the 60%, and to ask if there is any way you could qualify for 75%.

If you have a contract or policy document indicating that you should receive 75%, you should write to the Old Mutual claims department and the Nedbank Fund Trustees to dispute the 60% claim.

If you believe the fund rules were not followed correctly and the fund does not change its position, you could also contact the Pension Funds Adjudicator who deals with complaints related to retirement funds and members’ benefits. 

Mr. Lebogang Mogashoa is the 2026 head of the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator (OPFA). 

These are their contact details:

• Address: 4th Floor, Riverwalk Office Park, Block A, 41 Matroosberg Road, Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria, 0181

• Postal Address: P.O. Box 580, Menlyn, 0063

• Telephone: 012 346 1738 / 012 748 4000 / 0800 00 6732

• Email (General Enquiries): [email protected]

• Website: www.pfa.org.za 

You must submit your complaint in writing. You can download a complaint form from the website and send it together with supporting documents like ID, payslips, benefit statements. 

Wishing you the best,
Athalie