Why did my monthly allowance from the Municipality Pension Fund stop after I turned 21?

The long answer

The fund that paid your allowance is the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). In 2018 the GEPF changed their rules to allow a child to get a pension at the same time as its mother, until the child turned 22. An eligible child qualifies for child pension up to the age of 22, whether the child is a student or not.

Child pensions are paid to the child’s guardian until the age of 18, at which time the benefit must be paid to the major child pensioner directly. Once the child reaches the age of 18, the child must submit banking details in their own name as GEPF is not allowed to pay benefits due to a major child into the account of another person. If GEPF is not furnished with the banking particulars of the major child, the benefit will be suspended until the banking details are submitted. A completed Bank Particulars Form (Z894) has to be submitted. 

The GEPF rules say: “The Child’s Pension benefit is available to a child whose biological parent was a GEPF member or pensioner. The benefit only applies if the member or pensioner is deceased on or after 1 June 2018. If the member or pensioner passed away prior to 1 June 2018, and the applicant was aged between 18 and 22 prior to 1 June 2018, he or she must provide proof of full-time studentship to qualify for benefits as a major.”

So if you are not a student, your child pension would come to an end when you turn 22. 

Perhaps you should contact the GEPF on their national toll-free call centre number (0800 117 669) to clarify why the pension stopped when you turned 21, not 22.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie