HIV patients to access NSSF cash before 55
The NSSF managing director, Mr Richard Byarugaba, said HIV and Hepatitis B patients are free to get their savings as long as they have authentic medical reports from a government hospital confirming they have the disease. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
Prerequisite. The patients are required to present medical reports to prove their condition in order to access their money.
Lira. People living with HIV/Aids and Hepatitis B can access their savings with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) before they reach the retirement age of 55.
The NSSF managing director, Mr Richard Byarugaba, said HIV and Hepatitis B patients are free to get their savings as long as they have authentic medical reports from a government hospital confirming they have the disease.
Even people disabled as a result of accidents can get their NSSF savings, he added.
Mr Byarugaba was speaking at the northern region employers meeting in Lira Town on Monday.
He encouraged employees to save their money with NSSF “because it is an investment which will help them in old age when they retire”.
“Some of the amendments we have proposed to government include to allow people utilise their savings to invest in things such as real estate as they can get mortgages and own their houses,” he said.
He added that the other areas they want people to engage in is voluntary savings so that they can get medical, employment and education benefits.
Mr Byarugaba, however, noted that people have a low saving culture and prefer spending whatever money they get without minding about the future.
“Some people think it is a miracle to reach the mandatory age of 55 years in order to access their savings, but we have realised that only 2 per cent of our clients die before that age,” Mr Byarugaba said.
He revealed that this year, NSSF total contributions reached Shs1 trillion and their target is Shs20 trillion by 2025.
