Ugandans to start applying for NSSF Midterm Cash next week

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has said it has finalised the procedures required for midterm access to NSSF benefits and will next week present them to the public.

The development means those who save with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and qualify for midterm access could start to apply for their money next week.

This was revealed by Mr Apollo Onzima, an assistant commissioner in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, on the side lines of a workshop at Makerere University that was disseminating findings on the level of abuse at workplaces in Uganda.

Mr Onzoma explained that by Friday, the regulations, terms and conditions and procedure of midterm access of NSSF will be gazetted so that NSSF savers can start applying for their money, “more likely starting next week.”

The rules and regulations are only awaiting assent by Gender minister Betty Amongi, according to sources in the ministry.

Under the NSSF Amendment Act, 2021, the minister of Gender Labour and Social Development is mandated to issue the regulations within 60 days after the Bill was enacted into law.

A leaked copy of the regulations in Monday’s Daily Monitor paper indicated that claimants must present details of their National ID or alien’s identification, a preferred payment method, including bank or mobile money, and the NSSF number.

According to the regulations, processing payment should not exceed 60 days from the date of receipt of application.

When contacted on Wednesday evening, NSSF head of marketing and communication Barbra Arimi said all the procedure, requirements and application process for the fund will be communicated officially on Monday next week.

President Museveni last year assented to the amended National Social Security Fund Bill 2021 to allow workers who have saved for over 10 years and have reached 45 years of age are allowed 20% midterm access to their savings with NSSF.