NAPSA Benefits

Explore our comprehensive range of retirement benefits designed to secure your future

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What are benefits

In the context of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) in Zambia, benefits refer to the financial support provided to members upon retirement, in cases of invalidity, or to their survivors in the event of death. These benefits are designed to ensure financial security and dignity during retirement years and cover the following sectors

  • Retirement Benefits
  • Pre-Retirement Benefit (PRB)
  • Invalidity Benefits
  • Survivors' Benefits
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Member Benefits

Discover the comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you through every stage of your life. From retirement planning to health coverage, we're here to secure your future. Our benefits are tailored to meet your needs at different life stages, ensuring financial security and peace of mind. Whether you're planning for retirement, need support during challenging times, or want to secure your family's future, NAPSA has you covered with a variety of benefit options.

Our commitment is to provide you with the support you need when you need it most. With flexible options and comprehensive coverage, you can rest assured that your future is in good hands. Explore our range of benefits below to find out more about how we can support you and your loved ones.

At NAPSA, we understand that your needs evolve over time. Our member benefits are designed to provide financial security and peace of mind throughout your working life and into retirement. Whether you're planning for the future or need support today, we have solutions tailored for you.

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Benefits Statistics

250K

Monthly Maternity Payout

370K

Monthly Pension Payout

52B

Total Benefits Paid (ZMW)

24,183

Retirement Beneficiaries

Benefit Distribution

Benefit Payments Trend

Age Distribution of Beneficiaries

Last updated: Feb 26, 2025 08:00

What Benefits Does NAPSA Pay?

NAPSA pays out four principal benefits:

  • Retirement Benefits

    Paid to members upon reaching retirement age

  • Invalidity Benefits

    For members who become permanently disabled

  • Survivors' Benefits

    Paid to dependents of deceased members

  • Funeral Grant

    One-time payment for funeral expenses

In addition to these, NAPSA provides a funeral grant to survivors of the deceased member.

Retirement Age Changes

Following the recent assent of the National Pension Scheme Amendment Act No. 7 of 2015 on 14th August 2015, pensionable age for members of NAPSA was revised as follows:

  • Early retirement age - previously 50 years, now 55 years
  • Normal retirement age - previously 55 years, now 60 years
  • Late retirement age - 65 years
Pension Eligibility Criteria

Any registered member who has reached the ages of 55 years of age and has made a minimum of 180 months of contributions is eligible for Early Retirement Pension.

If one decides to retire at the age of 60 and has made a minimum of 180 months of contributions, they will eligible for Normal Retirement Pension.

Those that decide to retire at 65 years of age and have made a minimum of 180 months of contributions will eligible for Late Retirement Pension.

A registered member that has contributed less than 180 monthly contributions at the time of retirement will be eligible for a Retirement Lumpsum.

Our Benefit Types

Explore the comprehensive range of benefits available to NAPSA members

Early Retirement Benefits

Early Retirement Benefits

Access your retirement benefits earlier, with some conditions applied.

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Normal Retirement Benefits

Normal Retirement Benefits

Access your full retirement benefits after meeting the required conditions.

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Late Retirement Benefits

Late Retirement Benefits

For members who choose to retire at or after age 65 and have made at least 180 monthly contributions.

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PRB Benefits

Access a portion of your retirement benefits as capital to start or expand your business while still contributing to your pension.

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ECIS Benefits

Flexible contribution options for informal sector workers, with access to the same retirement benefits as formal sector workers.

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BENEFITS PAID BY NAPSA

Comprehensive information about all benefits available to NAPSA members

Formal Sector Benefits Informal Sector Benefits

Formal Sector Benefits

Under the formal sector scheme, NAPSA pays out four principal benefits: Pre-retirement Lump Sum, Retirement, Invalidity, and Survivors. In addition to these, NAPSA provides a funeral grant to the survivors of a deceased member.

The formal sector scheme is designed to provide comprehensive social security coverage to employees in the formal employment sector. It ensures that members and their families are protected against the loss of income due to retirement, invalidity, or death. The scheme is funded through contributions from both employers and employees, with benefits calculated based on the member's contribution history and earnings.

NAPSA continuously works to enhance the benefits and services provided under this scheme, ensuring that they remain relevant and adequate to meet the needs of members. The scheme is governed by the National Pension Scheme Act and is regularly reviewed to incorporate best practices in social security administration.

Pre-retirement Lump Sum Retirement Invalidity Survivors Funeral Grant PRB Benefits

PRE-RETIREMENT LUMPSUM BENEFITS

On the 17th of April 2023, The President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema announced the signing into law of the National Pension Scheme Amendment Bill 2023 which allows for the partial withdrawal of pensions.

Here is what you need to know about the Pre-retirement benefit:
  • Qualifying criteria: 60 months of contributions regardless of age but before retirement or 45 years and above regardless of the number of contributions.
  • Entitlement: 20% of total contributions. Each contribution will be indexed and interest will be added.
  • Frequency: One-off. Once you claim you can not claim again.
  • Claim process: All claims are done online. You do not need to visit a NAPSA office to claim. To claim you must first sign up on icare.napsa.co.zm
  • What you need to sign up: A phone number that is correctly registered in your name (check your mobile money registration with your mobile service provider), copy of NRC (Both sides of the NRC should be a single document) and passport size photo (less than 6 months old).

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

  • Early retirement age: previously 50 years, now 55 years
  • Normal retirement age: previously 55 years, now 60 years
  • Late retirement age: 65 years

Members who joined NAPSA after 14th August 2015 can claim their benefits at 55 (Early retirement pension only), 60 or 65 years of age for Normal and Late retirement benefits respectively, while members who joined NAPSA before 14th August 2015 have accrued rights to claim their benefits at 50 (Early retirement pension only) and 55 years for Normal retirement benefits, and can also opt to retire at 60 or 65 years of age for Normal and Late retirement respectively.

Any registered member who has reached the age of 55, 60 or 65 years and has made a minimum of 180 months of contribution qualifies for a pension.

EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Early retirement benefits are available to members who wish to retire before reaching the normal retirement age.

  • Eligibility: Members who joined NAPSA after 14th August 2015 can claim at 55 years of age.
  • Accrued rights: Members who joined before 14th August 2015 can claim at 50 years of age.
  • Contribution requirement: Minimum of 180 months (15 years) of contributions.
  • Benefit amount: Calculated based on contribution history, with adjustment factors applied for early retirement.

Early retirement benefits allow members to access their retirement benefits earlier, with some conditions applied. The benefit amount is adjusted to account for the extended period the pension will be paid.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING CRITERIA

Members need to provide proof of retirement in the form of any one of the following:

  • Retirement letter issued by employer
  • Resignation letter
  • Acceptance letter from employer stating they have retired
  • Dismissal letter issued by employer
  • Letter of Termination of contract

INVALIDITY BENEFITS

Any registered member with a minimum of 60 months of contributions and has become disabled to an extent that he/she can no longer work (as determined by a medical board), is eligible for invalidity pension provided they have 12 contributions within 36 months of becoming invalid, and member should be below pensionable age.

A registered member with less than 12 contributions within 36 months of becoming invalid or with less than 60 months of contributions is eligible for an invalidity lump sum.

SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS

If a member passes away, their spouse(s), biological and legally adopted children are eligible to receive a survivor's lump sum. Where there are no spouse(s) or children the administrator appointed by the court for the deceased's estate will be eligible to receive a survivor's lump sum.

If a retirement or invalidity pensioner passes away, their spouse(s), biological children and legally adopted children are eligible to receive a survivor's pension.

The amount payable is divided among the following eligible beneficiaries (2 shares for a spouse and 1 share per child):

  • Spouse
  • Child under the age of 18 years
  • Child under the age of 25 years in formal education
  • Unborn child (at the death of member)
  • Child of any age physically or mentally incapacitated by the age of 18 and at the death of the member

FUNERAL GRANT

If a registered member passes away, NAPSA provides a funeral grant to help cover the costs of the funeral. To qualify for this grant, the member must have made at least 12 monthly contributions during the last 36 months preceding the date of death of member.

In the event that a retirement or invalidity pensioner passes away, the funeral grant is paid whether the member made at least 12 monthly contributions during the last 36 months of their life or not.

A funeral grant is meant to give a befitting burial to the member. It's not meant for the survivors of the deceased.

PRB BENEFITS

The Pre-Retirement Benefit (PRB) allows members to access a portion of their retirement benefits as capital while continuing to contribute to their pension.

  • Purpose: To provide capital for starting or expanding a business
  • Eligibility: Members with sufficient contribution history
  • Amount: Calculated based on your contribution history and remaining time to retirement
  • Repayment: Flexible terms that allow for business growth while securing your retirement

The PRB program is designed to empower members to build wealth through entrepreneurship while maintaining their long-term retirement security. By accessing this benefit, you can invest in your future today without compromising your financial stability in retirement.

Informal Sector Benefits

Under the informal sector scheme, NAPSA offers the following benefits: Retirement, Invalidity, Survivors, Maternity, Weather Index Insurance, and Family Funeral Grant. These benefits are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of individuals working in the informal sector, providing them with social security coverage that was previously unavailable to them.

The informal sector scheme is tailored to be flexible and accessible, with voluntary contributions and simplified registration processes. Members can contribute according to their financial capacity, with the assurance of receiving benefits when they need them most. The scheme recognizes the irregular income patterns common in informal employment and provides multiple contribution options to accommodate different financial situations.

NAPSA is committed to extending social security coverage to all Zambians, including those in the informal sector. Through this scheme, self-employed individuals, small-scale farmers, marketeers, and other informal sector workers can now access social security benefits that provide financial protection and peace of mind for themselves and their families.

Retirement Invalidity Survivors Maternity Family Funeral Weather Insurance Access to Credit ECIS

RETIREMENT PENSION

  • Available to all registered members
  • Payable at age 60
  • A minimum of 120 contributions is required for a monthly pension, with the pension set at one-third of the minimum pension as prescribed in the ACT
  • Members with fewer than 120 contributions will receive a lump-sum payment

INVALIDITY PENSION

  • Available to members below the retirement age of 60
  • Permanent invalidity certified by a medical board
  • A minimum of 60 contributions is required
  • At least 12 contributions must be made within 36 months before the contingency
  • Members who do not meet these requirements will receive a lump-sum payment

SURVIVORS PENSION

  • Payable upon the death of a pensioner
  • Spouses, children, or registered dependants may receive this pension
  • The benefit is shared among all eligible beneficiaries
  • Eligible children include those under 18 (including children in utero) and up to 25 if still in school

MATERNITY BENEFIT

  • Paid to female members who have made at least 12 contributions in the last 36 months before the birth of a child
  • The benefit is calculated at the rate of 3.5 months multiplied by 50% of the monthly average income applicable in a respective year
  • A 24-month interval is required between births
  • Members may claim this benefit up to 6 times

FAMILY FUNERAL BENEFIT

  • Payable upon the death of a contributing member, their registered spouse, child, or dependant, or a retired member who was receiving a pension
  • Beneficiaries must be registered
  • The entitlements are 20% for the member, 20% for the spouse, and 10% per child or registered dependant of the prevailing funeral grant in the main scheme
  • Up to 6 family members under age 18 (or 25 if still in school) are eligible
  • This grant is nullified once the contributing member passes away

WEATHER INDEX INSURANCE

  • NAPSA will partner with an insurance provider through an MOU to offer this benefit
  • Membership to the NAPSA scheme is a prerequisite
  • This insurance protects against weather-related risks, including drought, dry spells, and excessive rainfall
  • The coverage is for weather risks only, not crop loss or other risks like pests or diseases
  • Registration for insurance is open from 21st December to 31st March
  • A premium of K50 provides a maximum payout of K500, with claims paid automatically based on monitored weather conditions

ACCESS TO CREDIT

  • NAPSA will partner with a financial institution through an MOU to provide access to credit
  • Membership to the scheme is required for eligibility

ECIS BENEFITS

The Extended Coverage for Informal Sector (ECIS) program provides social security coverage to workers in the informal economy, ensuring they have access to the same benefits as formal sector workers.

  • Flexible contributions: Make payments according to your income flow
  • Multiple payment channels: Mobile money, bank transfers, and other convenient options
  • Same benefits: Access to retirement, invalidity, and survivor benefits
  • Additional benefits: Access to maternity benefits, weather index insurance, and family funeral grants

ECIS is designed to be inclusive and accessible, recognizing the unique needs and circumstances of informal sector workers. By joining ECIS, you secure your future and gain access to a comprehensive social security safety net that protects you and your family.

Our Values

  • I - Integrity - "Do the Right Thing"

  • C - Collaboration - "Work Together"

  • A - Accountability - "Be Responsible for Your Actions"

  • R - Respect - "Listen to Every Voice"

  • E - Excellence - "Perform at Your Best"

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