… Says Beneficiaries Unknown
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has confirmed that an alarming total of 2,755,691 SSNIT accounts remain dormant as of May 21, 2025.
They explained dormancy as an account being inactive for 12 months without at least one valid contribution.
The letter, dated May 21, 2025, and signed by Emmanuel Klu, Information Officer at SSNIT, was in response to a request by a freelance investigative journalist, Innocent Samuel Appiah, under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), who requested information on dormant accounts and beneficiary claims from the Trust.
In response to the journalist’s request, SSNIT affirmed that 2,755,691 accounts are inactive, further clarifying that they are unable to determine which members are deceased among the dormant accounts.
This is because the death of a member is only confirmed when it is reported to the Trust and investigations are conducted to confirm the same.
SSNIT again indicated that they are unable to provide data on beneficiaries because until the death of a member is reported and confirmed, they cannot identify who the beneficiaries are.
“For reported deaths of members, investigations are conducted with the help of a death reporter and the family of the deceased member. During this process, the death of the member is confirmed and the beneficiaries identified. If the beneficiaries fail to show up, the family of the deceased is contacted to inform the beneficiaries about their benefit. The Trust also follows up on the beneficiaries with contact details obtained from the family. When a beneficiary applies for the benefit, funds are made available for payment,” SSNIT explained, educating the public on their operations when a member passes on.
“The Trust only encourages beneficiaries to apply for their benefits, and all needed assistance is given to them accordingly.”
The Trust further indicated that there are even procedures and policies where beneficiaries outside the country can complete authorization forms for a relative to claim on their behalf.
The Trust clarified that benefits are usually paid when a member attains a pensionable age and applies for their benefits.
If the death of a member has not been reported to SSNIT by the member’s family, the Trust highlighted that the beneficiaries would have their benefit payments pending until a formal report of death is made to SSNIT.
However, it is important to note that a member who passes on after age 72 or 75, based on the pensions law that applies to them, i.e., PNDCL 247 or Act 766, will not be entitled to any survivors’ benefits, because they would be deemed to have exhausted their insurable period.