The Fund’s Head of Marketing & Communications, Barbra Teddy Arimi said that the innovation, part of the Fund’s NSSFGO Mobile & Web Application will enable qualifying members conveniently submit required documentation directly to the Fund and monitor progress of their benefits claims without visiting NSSF offices.
“This innovation also takes us closer to our benefits payment turnaround time target, which is paying qualifying members within 24 hours from the current 8 days. It is available to all members who qualify for the Age, Withdrawal, Invalidity, Emigration Grant and Exempted employment benefits as stated in Section 19 of the NSSF Act 1985,” Arimi said.
In addition, the innovation is expected to reduce congestion in the Funds’ 19 branches countrywide especially as it observes government’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures that include social distancing. Currently, the Fund receives close 600 clients daily across its branch network.
To access the platform, one needs to download the NSSFGO Mobile and Web Application, scroll to ‘Benefits Application” and enter required information and documents. Upon submission, a beneficiary is able to track the benefits claim until the payment is made.
The addition of Online Benefits Submission now means that all NSSF services are available online or mobile phone. Other services include member and employer registration, contributions payments, member contacts update, retirement benefits projections, and contributions e-statements.
Arimi said that introduction of the Online Benefits Submission is a result of the Fund’s “e-journey” that started in 2015.
“As part of our 10 year (2015-2025) Strategic Plan, we pledged to innovating, become more relevant to our members as well as excel in business processes to be more efficient. It is a journey that we are still committed to. The NSSFGO is our pathway to unlimited service efficiency and convenience,” she added.
Other self-service platforms available to customers include the E-collections Portal that allows employers to remit their employees’ contributions directly to their NSSF accounts through the Bank, the Mobile Money Platform for contributions payment by the Fund’s Voluntary savers.
Others are the NSSF Payway and the USSD *254#, a mobile platform where members can access a wide range of services.
