ESKOM PENSION & PROVIDENT FUND Current Job Opportunity

Provide professional social support to the surviving spouses and dependents/beneficiaries and assist EPPF to obtain the necessary information needed to take decisions with regards to the allocation of benefits in compliance with the Fund rules and Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act.

Conduct Section 37C dependency investigations for death benefit allocation and follow-up on outstanding death benefit payments

 

 

 

 

Job Title: Social Worker
Location: Bryanston, Gauteng, South Africa
Reference #: 0001SW
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Market Related

Job Summary:
– Prepare cases for investigation to confirm and identify dependants, according to standard policy and procedure.
– Set up visits and conduct interviews with widows/ers, dependants, guardians, family members, friends, colleagues and other relevant informants and obtain supporting documentation to confirm verbal information given by family members, friends, colleagues and other relevant informants
– Gather information telephonically or through interviews from relevant informants to confirm validity and to identify possible suspicious or false information.
– Conduct home visits when necessary, to assess home circumstances, make observations and confirm information provided by dependants
– Check Renunciation of Claim Forms for completeness.
– Conduct multi-disciplinary case review sessions on benefits allocations with Legal Department.
– Create awareness and educate members and stakeholders on issues pertaining to dependency and procedures to allocate benefits by providing the relevant information.
– Communicate with Eskom employers to identify and verify possible dependants and confirm benefits paid by the employer, assess and make recommendations based on this information.
– Use Benefits Allocation Checklist to ensure fair and equitable allocation of benefits.
– Submit Benefits Allocation Summary to substantiate recommended percentage allocation of death benefits and method of payment.
– Compile and submit benefits allocation reports with recommendations for management verification and Benefits Committee approval.
– Process workflow with banking details for further action once benefits allocation is approved.
– Regular upload of documents and update notes on the system for record keeping and query management, maintaining up to date, accurate information.
– Act as a mediator and intervene on behalf of dependants in cases of disputes and misuse of benefits.
– Ensure proper placement and care of children with suitable guardians.
– Attend to all relevant enquiries and complaints.
– Attend Benefits Committee meetings to provide additional information on benefits investigations.

Provide professional social work services to guardians:
– Conduct needs assessment of guardian cases to ensure proper childcare and use of benefits.
– Create awareness and educate guardians and other stakeholders on issues pertaining to childcare through group work and the provision of information manuals.
– Conduct regular home visits to identify problems.
– Maintain accurate, up to date, records with regards to guardians.
– Counsel widows/widowers and guardians and refer for further counselling where the need is identified.
– Act as mediator to resolve disputes regarding misuse of children’s benefits and report on misuse, in accordance with relevant procedures.
– Ensure proper placement and care of children with suitable guardians including correct payment of benefits to beneficiaries to reduce misuse of benefits.
– Conduct paternity/kinship analysis to confirm status of minor children as necessary.
– Recommend suspension and reinstatement of pensions, addition of qualifying beneficiaries and termination of non-qualifying beneficiaries, based on investigations conducted.
– Conduct benefits education (EPPF), based on needs identified.
– Facilitate an increase in parental care and financial skills by involving the relevant stakeholders and providing the necessary information.

Monitor use of children’s instalment lump sum accounts:

– Attend the Management Benefits Committee, review and assess information received on advance requests and make recommendations.
– Counsel widows and guardians on use of children’s benefits.
– Verify requests, in accordance with Fund rules.
– Facilitate counselling for children upon maturity of instalment lump sum accounts.

Implement Benefits Committee, Medical Panels decisions and requests/ referrals for case investigations from internal departments:

– Provide casework services to beneficiaries, based on decisions, requests and referrals made and own observations.
– Gather information telephonically or through interviews from relevant informants to confirm validity, family circumstances and to identify possible suspicious or false information.
– Act as mediator to resolve disputes regarding misuse of children’s benefits and report on misuse.
– Write and submit reports with recommendations outlining pertinent information.
– Upload documents and update notes on system for record keeping and query management.
– Ensure proper placement and care of children with suitable guardians including correct payment of benefits to beneficiaries to reduce misuse of benefits.
– Conduct paternity/kinship analysis to confirm biological status of minor children.
– Recommend suspension and reinstatement of pensions, addition of qualifying beneficiaries and termination of non-qualifying beneficiaries.

Contribute to the team:

– Provide assistance to internal and external stakeholders on social work-related issues.
– Assist with follow ups related to cases.
– Liaise with Eskom employer HR, other Pension Administration staff as required.
– Participate in EPPF’s projects, contributing knowledge of benefits investigations.

Requirements:
– Relevant bachelor’s degree Social Work. Registered with professional bodies – where applicable.
– Registration with SA Council for Social Service Professions advantageous
– 5 years job-related experience
– Knowledge of African languages is advantageous
– Excellent report writing and interviewing skills
– Driver Licence, willing to travel extensively within SA and other countries
– Working knowledge of Pension Fund Rules and an in-depth knowledge of the applicable sections
– Basic knowledge of Income Tax Act, Divorce Act, Pension Funds Act, Child Care Act, Marriage Act, Recognition of Customary Marriage Act, Mental Health Act
– Pension Funds Act and an in-depth knowledge of the applicable sections (Section 37C – Death benefit distribution)

To Apply:

Click Here!

Application Deadline: 05/10/2021