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Answers to your questions

Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.

How does medical boarding work?

It depends on the company's pension or provident fund rules, but usually they leave it to the insurance company to decide whether you qualify. If you do, you will be paid a monthly stipend.

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Can a school hand over my unpaid fees account to debt collectors without warning me?

The school should contact you and give you three months to settle the account. But they do not need to tell you if they intend to hand over the account to debt collectors.

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Do I need to transfer a deceased person's estate to my name in order to pay off its debt?

No, the debt must first be paid from the deceased estate before the title deed can be transferred.

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How should I set up annual leave for my elderly mother's caregiver, as they will be needed more as her condition deteriorates?

Given the legal requirements surrounding annual leave, it may be simpler to employ more than one carer.

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What documents will I need for my baby if I, a foreign national, give birth in South Africa?

You first need to register your baby's birth with Home Affairs, then apply for their passport at your embassy/consulate so that you can apply for an Accompanying Minors Visa.

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Why is SASSA not sending me an ID verification link?

It could be that they are struggling to verify your identity because you have a green ID book and your photo is not clear enough.

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Am I automatically entitled to citizenship if I was born in South Africa?

No. You only qualify for South African citizenship if at least one parent is/was a South African citizen or has permanent resident status.

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Why has my R350 SRD grant application status said "pending" for two years?

SASSA manually verifies every application, which takes very long. It could be that there is information missing but SASSA does not inform applicants when this is the case, so you need to keep checking

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I think the company I resigned from for mistreating me is doing something to stop me from getting my provident fund. What can I do?

If this is the case, you can report your employer to the trustees of the fund, who will take action.

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Do I qualify for benefits if I was diagnosed with TB three years after leaving my mining job?

No, you can only receive compensation if you were diagnosed with TB within one year of leaving work. But if you can prove you had latent TB prior, you might have a shot.

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