Business News of Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Source: GNA

Multiple names delay SSNIT Contributors’ benefits

Multiple names and dates of birth in the records of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) makes processing of beneficiaries’ claims difficult, Mr Charles Boisiako Antwi, Upper East Regional Manager of the Trust, said on Monday.

He said, date inconsistencies in names and births continued to show up when filing contributors’ claims and that hindered the processing of the benefits of retired workers.

Mr Antwi said this during the annual SSNIT mobile clinic held in Navrongo with a call on Social Security contributors to constantly update their records with SSNIT to ensure smooth processing of pension claims.

According to him, the five day open clinic would provide contributors the opportunity to rectify defects in their personal records.

Mr Allan Azu, area Manager of SSNIT, said as some contributors did not have time to travel to the regional office to access services, SSNIT had made the clinic a replica of what was done in the regional office to reduce travel and also help contributors to update their records.

The Area Manager said the clinic afforded contributors the opportunity to tidy up their Personal and financial records to help SSNIT to provide accurate annual statement of accounts.

He said the period was also for those who had been employed and were not enrolled with SSNIT to do so once they had appointment letters as well as student loan beneficiaries to access their indebtedness and discuss arrangement for payment.

Mr Azu noted that, many nominations of beneficiaries by contributors required changing because such nominations were either non-existent or the contributors who may have given those names did so because they did not have dependants at that time.

He reminded them to update such records especially those who intended to replace their old nominations with their dependents.

Mr Emmanuel Andema, Kassena Nankana District Chief Executive, opening the Clinic, thanked SSNIT for bringing their services to the door steps of workers in the District which he said was an exercise that had been longed for.

“It is better to correct our personal data anomalies with SSNIT whilst we are in active service than when on retirement when we are supposed to enjoy our benefits” he said, asking employers to urge their staff to visit the clinic because it was a worthy cause.**