No Girlfriends or Boyfriends Allowed as SSNIT Beneficiaries
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has clarified that employees and members of the scheme cannot register their boyfriends or girlfriends as pension beneficiaries.
Only direct blood relatives are eligible to be nominated under the trust.
Mr. Frank Molbila, General Manager in charge of Benefits at SSNIT, disclosed this at a regional forum organised in Sunyani, in collaboration with the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The event, themed “Empowering Unions, Secure Futures: Deepening Pension Literacy Across Ghana,” formed part of nationwide efforts to enhance workers’ understanding of pension schemes and strengthen collaboration between SSNIT and organised labour.
Mr. Molbila described the SSNIT pension as a highly reliable investment, noting that the longer a member participates in the scheme, the greater the benefits they receive. He encouraged all workers to register with the trust to ensure a secure and stable retirement.
He highlighted several benefits of the scheme, advising members to plan ahead for their retirement, emphasizing that SSNIT remains an essential tool for long-term financial security.
According to him, the trust disbursed a total of GHC6.77 billion in pension benefits in 2025, with projections indicating payments could rise to about GHC8.21 billion by the end of 2026.
Mr. Molbila noted that the oldest pensioner currently receiving benefits is 107 years old, and the trust continues to pay pensions until a beneficiary passes away. The highest-earning pensioner currently receives GHC213,000 monthly, while the lowest pension stands at around GHC400.
On the matter of invalidity pensions, he indicated that the highest monthly payment is GHC19,923 for a pensioner aged 86, who has been on the payroll for about 36 years.
The invalidity pension, currently in operation for 32 years, provides monthly support to members with permanent physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from working. In 2025 alone, SSNIT disbursed GHC40.8 million in invalidity pensions.
Mr. Molbila also reminded members to update their records, particularly the details of nominated beneficiaries, to ensure accurate and timely disbursement of benefits.
