When can I change my death cover?
You can choose your death cover multiples for your UCTRF death cover and separate death cover when you join the UCTRF, without having to provide medical evidence of your good health.
You may decrease your UCTRF and/or Separate Death Cover at any time on one month’s notice.
You also have an option to increase your death cover multiples, within certain limits, effective 1 November each year. The UCTRF will send out the necessary forms to change your death cover effective 1 November, prior to that date. You may increase your death cover at other times during the year in certain circumstances as set out below.
(Note: Disability claimants may not increase their death benefit multiples after they become disabled.)
UCTRF Death Cover
If your marital status changes or you have a child, you may increase your cover without needing to provide evidence of health, provided you do not increase your cover by more than the multiples set out below:
Event |
Underwriting-free multiple of cover |
Annual option date (1 November) |
3 |
Marriage of the member |
5 |
Birth or adoption of child |
2 |
Divorce or death of spouse |
1 |
If you want to increase your death cover by more than the multiples set out above, or at any other time, the Insurer will ask you to undergo a medical examination so that it can assess whether you are in good health. The cost of this will be for your own account.
If you increase your cover by more than 3 X CoE, the increased amount above 3 X CoE will not be payable on death by suicide or criminal act within 12 months of the effective date of the increase.
If you wish to change your multiple of cover a date other than 1 November, contact the UCTRF Office who will provide you with the relevant forms.
The cost of the Premiums for the UCTRF death cover will be deducted from your UCTRF contributions. This means that the more cover you select, the less goes to your Accumulated Retirement Savings. It is important to balance the needs of your dependants in the event of your death, with your needs when you retire. We recommend that you make use of the Retirement Provision calculator and the Death Cover calculator at https://uctrf.co.za/uctrf/toolbox to help you with this decision, and/or consult your accredited financial advisor.
Separate Death Cover
You may decrease your Separate Death Cover at any time on one month’s notice.
You may increase your Separate Death Cover on the events listed below without needing to provide evidence of health in the following ways, provided you do not increase your cover above the free cover limit.
Event |
Annually each year effective 1 November |
Your marriage |
Birth or adoption of child |
Divorce or death of your spouse |
Purchase of a house |
If you wish to change your multiple of cover at a date other than 1 November, contact your HRBP who will provide you with the relevant forms. These forms must be submitted to the underwriter within 13 weeks of the relevant event and must include the documentation specified in the forms.
If you choose additional Separate Death cover, the Premium for this additional cover will be deducted from your salary in addition to the UCTRF contribution that you are already making (in other words it will reduce your take-home pay).
Enquiries
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