How long can my child dependant stay on the Fund?

How long can your child dependant stay on your membership?

The Fund grants membership to any of your child dependents who are younger than 21 years without asking you whether they are still dependent on you for care or support. They may be when they are not earning enough to be self-sustaining or when they are students at registered tertiary institutions.

When your child is about to have their 21^st birthday, or at every following birthday up to their 25^th birthdays, you will be asked to prove their dependency. If your submission meets the requirements, we will let you know and the Fund will continue to charge their contributions based on "Child" rates, up until their 25^th birthday.

This depends on the Fund Rules.

Send us proof of their dependency

Your child, who is 21 years or older, may stay on as a child dependant up to their 25th birthday if

- they are registered as a student at a registered tertiary institution; or

- they are financially dependent on you for ongoing care and support.

You must send us the following information so we can confirm the ongoing membership and the contributions payable:

• Proof that your child dependant is a registered student: Send the official registration certificate to the Fund. If the child dependant turns, or is older than 21 years, on or after the end of March 2022, the Fund must receive the proof of the student registration at least 30 days before that dependant's 21st birthday. You must supply annual proof of studies, up to the child's 25^th birthday.
  
  Proof of studies for children whose 21^st to 25^th birthdays are in the first three months of a year, must be provided by 31 March.
• Proof of income for dependants who are 21 to 25 years old: If your student child is working, i.e., not studying full time, or not a student but still financially dependent on you, we require proof of their dependency. Please send copies of their bank statements or salary slips for the three months immediately before their 21^st, and up to their 25^th birthdays. Also, send us an affidavit where you confirm that they are financially dependent on you for family care and support. If your child earns below the threshold of R7,605 per month in 2022, they can remain on the Fund, and pay adult contribution rates. Note: the threshold is adjusted annually.

Please send the documents to confirmation@engenmed.co.za.

If you have any questions, please contact our Call Centre on 0800 001 615.

What are the Rules when your child is older than 21 years and financially dependent on you?

The Fund Rules determine these dependants must pay contributions at "Adult" rates.

The contributions are higher for adult dependants. So, if your child no longer qualifies to pay contributions based on child rates, your monthly contributions will increase from the first of the month following your child's qualifying birthday. This will apply to all dependants who are 21 years or older, who are financially dependent on the principal member, and to all child dependants who are still studying after their 25th birthdays, providing they do not earn more than R7,605 per month in 2022.

If your child earns more than R7,605 per month they will no longer be eligible to stay on as members of the Fund.

What if you don't provide proof of dependency for your child who is 21 years or older?

If you do not respond and provide proof that your child is a student or financially dependant on you in the time allowed, the child will no longer be eligible, and we will end their membership of the Fund.