How long can my child stay on the Scheme
Q: How long can my child stay on the Scheme?
Your child dependant can stay on your membership up to the age of 24. If your child was 23 or younger on 1 January, he/ she is still eligible to stay on your membership at the dependant contribution rate for the current year. If your child had already turned 24 on 1 January, you will receive a letter from the Scheme, informing you that in terms of the Scheme Rules, your dependant’s membership will be terminated in the following year. Should you wish to enrol your child onto another scheme, it is advisable to ensure that there is no break between scheme memberships. Most schemes apply waiting periods, charge increased contributions and/or apply exclusions if their new member has a break of more than three months between schemes.
Q: My child is still financially dependent on me – are there no exceptions to keep him/her on my membership?
You may apply for him/her to stay on your membership if you can supply the necessary documents that the Scheme will need to determine eligibility. This could be granted if:
- Your child is a student or earning less than the tax threshold of a person younger than 65. If eligibility for your child is confirmed, the adult dependant contribution rate would apply.
- Your child is permanently disabled. Depending on your employer, there might be different subsidies, or none, for the contribution for your child dependant after the age of 21 or 24.