The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has announced a major overhaul of its pensioner certificate renewal process, introducing annual mandatory certification for all pensioners beginning April 2026.
The revised policy, unveiled at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, marks one of the most significant service reforms in the pension administration system in recent years.
Addressing the media, General Manager of Benefits, Mr. Frank Molbila, said the revision is designed to protect the benefits of pensioners while ensuring the continued integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the national pensions payroll.
He noted that the policy will now apply to every pensioner; both Old Age and Invalidity from the commencement of their pensions, replacing the previous system which required annual renewal only when pensioners reached age 72 under PNDCL 247 or 75 under Act 766.
“This revised policy seeks to introduce annual mandatory certification for all pensioners. Renewal will now take place during each pensioner’s birth month and serves as continuous confirmation that the right person is receiving the right benefit,” Mr. Molbila explained.
The earlier arrangement, instituted in 2018, limited annual renewal to older pensioners. According to SSNIT, this created gaps in the system, particularly when pensioners passed away before reaching the specified ages. Because SSNIT was often not notified of such deaths, payments continued unknowingly, sometimes for years, creating situations where pension funds meant for nominated survivors were mistakenly paid to unidentified individuals.
“With this revision, pensioners will help SSNIT ensure that when they are alive, they are the ones receiving their benefits. And when they pass on, the benefits go to the validly nominated persons. Your money should go to who you say it should go to when you are no more,” he emphasized.
The new birth-month renewal system aligns with global best practices, where pension administrators employ ongoing “proof-of-life” mechanisms to maintain payroll accuracy. It also reflects the growing national conversation on pension reforms, digitisation, and improved service delivery, an issue that has gained relevance as SSNIT now pays pensions to over 257,000 retirees nationwide.
Recognising the mobility challenges of many pensioners, SSNIT has rolled out multiple renewal avenues, including:
- SSNIT Mobile App (Facial Verification) — for both resident and non-resident pensioners
- Virtual Branch
- Selected branches of GCB and Ecobank
- All 53 SSNIT branches nationwide
- Home visits for pensioners who are ill or unable to travel
Pensioners requiring home support may call the SSNIT Contact Centre on 0302 611 622 to schedule a visit.
To ensure smooth compliance, SSNIT will send timely reminders one month before each pensioner’s birth month. Staff will also be available to guide pensioners through the process.
