GEPF Contribution Rates and Benefits
The GEPF contribution rates are fixed by the fund’s rules: you pay a set share of your pensionable salary, and your employer pays more. In return, GEPF provides a range of benefits — at retirement, on resignation, and for your family if you pass away. This page sets out the contribution rates and the main benefits, including the funeral benefit amounts.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: GEPF
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Contribution Rates
Every member pays the same rate, while the employer pays more — and more still for “services” members.
| Who pays | Rate (of pensionable salary) |
|---|---|
| Member (you) | 7.5% |
| Employer — most members | 13% |
| Employer — services & intelligence | 16% |
“Services” members are those in the Police, Defence, Correctional Services and the intelligence community, whose employer contributes 16% to reflect their different benefit structure.
The Benefits at a Glance
| Benefit | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Retirement (10+ years) | A gratuity (cash lump sum) plus a monthly pension for life |
| Retirement (under 10 years) | A once-off gratuity equal to your actuarial interest |
| Resignation | A cash withdrawal benefit, or a transfer to another fund |
| Death in service | A gratuity plus a spouse’s and children’s pension |
| Funeral | R20,000 (member/pensioner or spouse); R8,000 (eligible child) |
The Funeral Benefit in Detail
GEPF pays a funeral benefit of R20,000 towards the funeral of a member or pensioner, and the same R20,000 for the funeral of their spouse or life partner. For the funeral of an eligible child, the benefit is R8,000. An eligible child is a natural or legally adopted child under 18, or between 18 and 22 if a full-time student, and includes a stillborn child. The benefit is paid as a taxable cash lump sum, and GEPF aims to pay it within 72 hours of receiving a complete claim.
How Your Benefits Are Determined
Because GEPF is a defined benefit fund, your retirement and death benefits are set by a formula rather than by investment returns. The two things that drive the amount are your years of pensionable service and your final salary (the average of your pensionable salary over your last two years, or your whole period of service if that is shorter). The longer you serve, the larger your gratuity and pension — which is why leaving early and cashing out usually costs far more than it appears. You can estimate your own figures with our GEPF Pension Calculator.
Claiming Your Benefits
Benefit claims are submitted through your HR department, which forwards them to GEPF. For the funeral benefit, your spouse or family completes the Funeral Benefit Claim Form (Z300) and the Bank Form (Z894), and attaches a tax certificate for each claim. For a spouse’s pension, the surviving spouse completes the Application for Spouse’s Pension form with certified copies of identity documents and the death certificate. Keeping your beneficiary details up to date with HR makes these claims far smoother. GEPF’s toll-free call centre (0800 117 669) can confirm exactly which forms and documents your situation needs.
Got your number? Two things worth checking next
→ Your GEPF pension — estimate your government pension and gratuity. → Your full take-home pay — what you actually receive after PAYE and UIF.Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I contribute to GEPF?
Members pay 7.5% of their pensionable salary. The employer pays 13%, or 16% for services and intelligence members.
How much is the GEPF funeral benefit?
R20,000 for a member, pensioner or their spouse, and R8,000 for an eligible child, paid as a taxable lump sum.
What decides the size of my pension?
Your years of pensionable service and your final salary. Longer service means a larger gratuity and pension.
📋 Verified — Official sources: GEPF (funeral benefits) · GEPF (contributions)
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service — not affiliated with or endorsed by the UIF, SARS, SASSA, the GEPF, the Department of Employment and Labour, or the South African government — and is not liable for decisions made in reliance on it.
