Government Employee Pension (gov_employee_pension) – What It Means, How to Fix It and How to Appeal (no_gov_employee_pension)
At a Glance: What To Do First
Confirm the exact month showing gov_employee_pension on your SRD status portal. Check whether you are recorded as a pensioner or beneficiary with the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) for that specific month. If you genuinely receive a government employee pension, the decline is correct and an appeal is unlikely to succeed for that period. If you have never received a government employee pension, or the record ended before the assessed month, contact GEPF to obtain written confirmation covering that month and use it to support your appeal using no_gov_employee_pension.
What Government Employee Pension Means on the SRD Portal
When your SRD application shows Government Employee Pension, the automated SRD check detected a government employee pension-related record matched to your ID for the assessed month. A pension income disqualifies you from SRD because it represents a regular government-sourced income stream above the R624 monthly threshold.
The wording appears differently depending on which portal you are using:
SRD status portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status): Government Employee Pension
SRD appeals portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal): gov_employee_pension
Your appeal reason on the appeals portal: no_gov_employee_pension
The SRD system works through automated database matching and does not evaluate your individual circumstances. If a GEPF-linked record exists on your ID for the assessed month, it flags the application regardless of whether the record is accurate. This is why incorrect or outdated GEPF records are a genuine cause of wrongful declines and why official written confirmation from GEPF is the strongest evidence you can submit.
What the GEPF Is and Which Pension Types Can Trigger This Decline
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is South Africa’s largest pension fund, administering retirement and related benefits for current and former employees of national and provincial government departments, certain public entities, and other participating employers.
The SRD matching process does not distinguish between pension types at the matching stage. Any GEPF-linked record on your ID can trigger gov_employee_pension. The pension types that can cause this decline include:
Retirement pension. Paid to former government employees who retired after reaching pension age or completing the required years of service.
Early retirement pension. Paid to former government employees who took voluntary early retirement packages.
Medical disability pension. Paid to former government employees who left service due to a qualifying medical condition or disability.
Military pension. Paid through the GEPF to former members of the South African National Defence Force.
Spouse or dependant pension. Paid to the surviving spouse or qualifying dependants of a deceased GEPF member. If a deceased government employee’s pension was linked to your ID as a surviving spouse or dependant, this can trigger the decline even though you are not the original pension member.
Deferred pension. A former government employee who resigned before retirement age may have a deferred pension benefit recorded with GEPF. Even if the pension has not yet started paying, the record may still exist in the database linked to your ID.
If you are unsure which of these applies to your situation, the first step is to contact GEPF directly and ask them to confirm which record is linked to your ID and for which period.
Common Causes Behind This SRD Decline
Active GEPF pension during the assessed month. You receive a government employee pension and the record correctly reflects this for the month in question. The decline is correct.
Record not updated after pension ended. If your pension was cancelled, suspended, or you were a temporary beneficiary whose benefit has since lapsed, the GEPF record may still appear as active in the database.
Surviving spouse or dependant pension. If you receive or received a spousal or dependant pension from GEPF following the death of a family member, this record is linked to your ID and can trigger the decline. Even if payments have ended, the record may remain.
Incorrect ID linkage. A GEPF record belonging to another person has been linked to your ID number due to a data capture error. This can happen where ID numbers were incorrectly recorded during employment or pension registration.
Legacy record from previous government employment. A deferred pension record from government employment in earlier years remains on the GEPF database linked to your ID even though you left government service and are not receiving any pension payment.
Record update lag. A recent change to your pension status had not yet been updated in the system at the time the SRD assessment ran for the affected month.
GEPF Follow-Up: Get Month-Specific Confirmation Before You Appeal
The strongest evidence for a no_gov_employee_pension appeal is official written confirmation from GEPF stating clearly that you were not recorded as a pensioner or beneficiary for the specific assessed month. A general confirmation that you are not currently receiving a pension is not sufficient because ITSAA reviews each month separately and needs to see confirmation covering the specific period in dispute.
What To Ask GEPF for So the Proof Works for SRD
Ask GEPF to confirm in writing your pension status specifically for the month and year that was declined. Request that the confirmation include the phrase “not a GEPF pensioner or beneficiary” and reference the specific month. Ask them to include your full name and ID number in the confirmation. If you are or were a surviving spouse or dependant beneficiary, ask them to confirm whether any pension benefit is currently linked to your ID and what the effective start and end dates are.
Copy and Paste Email Template
Subject: Request for Written Confirmation – Not a GEPF Pensioner or Beneficiary for [Month Year] – SRD Decline: gov_employee_pension
Message:
Dear GEPF,
I am writing to request official written confirmation of my pension status for [Month Year]. My SRD R370 grant application was declined for this month with the reason Government Employee Pension (gov_employee_pension). I believe this may be an error and require official confirmation to support my appeal to ITSAA.
Full name: [Your full name as on your ID] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Month in question: [Month and Year]
Please confirm in writing whether I am or was recorded as a GEPF pensioner or beneficiary during [Month Year], and whether any pension benefit was paid to me or linked to my ID during this period. I require this confirmation to include my full name, ID number, and specific reference to [Month Year] for submission as supporting evidence with my SRD appeal.
If a record is linked to my ID, please confirm what pension category is involved and the effective dates of that record.
Thank you.
Send to: enquiries@gepf.co.za
GEPF Official Contact Details
GEPF email: enquiries@gepf.co.za
GEPF toll-free: 0800 117 669 (free)
GEPF telephone: +27 80 011 7669
GEPF contact page: gepf.co.za/contact-us
GEPF fraud helpline: 0800 203 900
GEPF business hours: 07:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Always ask for the response in writing by email so you have a document to attach directly to your SRD appeal. If you contact GEPF by phone, request a reference number and ask them to follow up with written confirmation.
Fast Checks and Fixes Before You Appeal
Confirm the exact month showing gov_employee_pension on your SRD status portal. Write down the month before taking any other steps.
Ask yourself whether any of the following situations apply to you: you currently receive a GEPF pension, you are a surviving spouse or dependant receiving a GEPF benefit, you previously worked for government and took an early retirement package, or you have a deferred pension benefit with GEPF from previous government employment.
If none of these apply to you, the record is likely incorrectly linked to your ID. Contact GEPF using the template above to identify what record is triggering the match and obtain written confirmation that the record does not apply to you.
If a record does exist, ask GEPF whether it was active during the assessed month and whether any payment was made to you during that period. This determines whether the decline is correct or whether you have grounds to appeal.
Check your bank statement for the assessed month. Look for any GEPF pension deposits. If no pension payment appears, your bank statement supports your claim that no pension income was received during that month.
Only proceed to appeal once you have official written confirmation from GEPF covering the assessed month.
Portal Appeal Option for This Status: no_gov_employee_pension
Select no_gov_employee_pension on the SRD appeals portal only when your evidence clearly shows that you were not a GEPF pensioner or beneficiary during the assessed month or that the pension record is incorrectly linked to your ID.
Evidence Checklist for no_gov_employee_pension
All evidence must be specific to the assessed month. Month-specific wording in your GEPF confirmation is more important than volume of documents.
Official GEPF written confirmation stating you were not a pensioner or beneficiary for the assessed month, with your full name and ID number included, and specific reference to the month in question. This is your most important document.
Bank statement for the assessed month showing no GEPF pension deposit during that period. A full month statement is more persuasive than a partial screenshot.
Certified copy of your South African ID document for written appeal submissions.
Portal screenshot showing the exact month and gov_employee_pension wording.
GEPF reference number from any phone or email interaction with GEPF about this query.
Short written explanation of one paragraph stating why the pension record does not apply to you for the assessed month. Keep it factual and month-specific.
Avoid generic confirmations. A letter stating you are not currently receiving a pension but not referencing the specific assessed month is likely to be insufficient. Ask GEPF explicitly to reference the assessed month in their response.
How To Submit Your SRD Appeal: no_gov_employee_pension
Go to the official SRD appeals portal.
Enter your ID number and the phone number registered to your SRD application. Request the OTP and enter it to verify your identity. Select the specific month you are appealing. Each declined month must be appealed separately even if the reason is the same across multiple months. Select no_gov_employee_pension as your appeal reason. Upload your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Accept the declaration and submit. You will receive an SMS confirming your appeal has been received.
Written Appeal for Cases Older Than 90 Days
If the 90-day online window has passed, the appeals portal will block the month you want to appeal. You can still submit a written appeal.
Download the official SASSA appeal form from sassa.gov.za. Complete the form for the specific declined month. Attach certified copies of your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Submit in person at your nearest SASSA office or send by registered post to your provincial SASSA office. Keep your proof of submission. Include a covering letter explaining which month you are appealing, why the pension record does not apply to you, and why the online deadline was missed.
Written appeals are reviewed by the same ITSAA process and carry the same weight as online submissions.
If Your SRD Appeal Is Declined
If ITSAA declines your appeal the outcome for that specific month is final through the internal process.
Before accepting the outcome, check the following:
Confirm you appealed the correct declined month. Confirm the month still shows gov_employee_pension. Check whether your GEPF confirmation clearly referenced the assessed month rather than a general current status. Check whether your bank statement covered the full assessed month with no pension deposit visible. If any document was unclear, undated, or did not reference the specific month, this is likely why the appeal failed.
If you still disagree after the final internal decision:
Judicial review through the High Court. You have 180 days from the final ITSAA decision to apply for judicial review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). This is a formal legal process and requires legal assistance to pursue effectively.
Free legal assistance. Legal Aid South Africa and Black Sash both provide free advice to grant applicants. Contact either organisation to understand whether your case has merit before deciding on a court process.
Correcting the GEPF record. If the record is genuinely incorrect, contact GEPF directly to request a correction and obtain written confirmation once the correction is processed. Future months should then assess correctly. Correcting the record at source is the most effective long-term resolution and prevents the same decline from recurring.
Tips and Scam Awareness for Government Employee Pension Declines
Practical Tips That Improve Outcomes
Request month-specific wording from GEPF. The difference between “I am not currently a pensioner” and “I was not a GEPF pensioner or beneficiary during [Month Year]” is significant for ITSAA reviewers. Ask explicitly for the month to be named in the confirmation.
If you are a surviving spouse or dependant beneficiary whose benefit has ended, contact GEPF to confirm the end date of your benefit in writing and request that this date is clearly stated in their response. Include this alongside your bank statement showing no pension payment during the assessed month.
Recheck later months after a correction. SRD is assessed per month. Once GEPF corrects an incorrect record, future monthly assessments should no longer be affected. You do not need to appeal each future month individually once the underlying record is corrected.
If GEPF takes time to respond, submit your appeal before the 90-day deadline and note in your submission that written GEPF confirmation is being obtained. Follow up with ITSAA once the letter arrives. However, submitting complete evidence from the start gives your appeal the best chance.
Scam and Fraud Red Flags
Pension record removal scams. Do not pay anyone claiming they can remove a GEPF record or pension link from your ID. No private person or service has access to GEPF databases. Corrections must be done directly through GEPF at no charge.
Fake GEPF letters. Do not purchase or use fabricated GEPF confirmation letters. ITSAA reviewers are experienced with official GEPF documentation and fraudulent letters are identifiable. Submitting a fake letter is a criminal offence and will result in a permanent ban from the SRD grant.
OTP and PIN theft. Scammers may contact you claiming to be GEPF or SASSA representatives and ask for your SRD PIN or OTP. Neither GEPF nor SASSA will ever ask for your SRD PIN or OTP.
Unofficial portals. Use only srd.sassa.gov.za for your appeal. Any other website offering to process SRD appeals or check GEPF records is unofficial.
SRD appeals are completely free.
Summary: What To Do If You Are Declined for Government Employee Pension
- Confirm the exact month showing gov_employee_pension on your SRD status portal.
- Check whether any GEPF pension record is genuinely linked to your ID for that month, including spouse or dependant benefits.
- Contact GEPF using the email template above and request written confirmation of your pension status specifically for the assessed month.
- Check your bank statement for the assessed month to confirm no pension payment was received.
- Gather your supporting documents with dates clearly visible and specific to the assessed month.
- Submit your appeal at the SRD appeals portal selecting no_gov_employee_pension within 90 days.
- If beyond 90 days, submit a written appeal with your documents at your nearest SASSA office.
- If your appeal is declined and you believe the decision is wrong, contact Legal Aid South Africa or Black Sash for free advice.
Government Employee Pension FAQs
I have never worked for government. Why am I getting this decline? The most likely cause is an incorrect record linked to your ID by mistake, or a surviving spouse or dependant pension linked to your ID following the death of a family member. Contact GEPF to confirm which record is on your ID and request written confirmation that no pension applies to you for the assessed month.
My spouse was a government employee and passed away. Could their pension affect my SRD? Yes. If you are a registered surviving spouse or dependant beneficiary with GEPF, the pension benefit linked to your ID can trigger this decline. If the benefit has ended, contact GEPF to obtain written confirmation of the end date covering the assessed month and include it in your appeal.
I took an early retirement package from government years ago. Does this still affect me? If your early retirement pension is still active, the decline is correct. If the pension has ended, contact GEPF to confirm the end date in writing. If you resigned before pension age and took a payout rather than a monthly pension, contact GEPF to confirm that no ongoing pension record is linked to your ID.
I have a deferred pension with GEPF but am not receiving payments yet. Does this affect my SRD? A deferred pension is a recorded benefit even if payments have not started. It may still appear as a linked record in GEPF’s database and trigger this decline. Contact GEPF to confirm how your deferred pension is reflected in their system and whether it was flagged as active during the assessed month.
What if the pension record belongs to someone else? Submit a dispute statement, your GEPF confirmation that no record exists on your ID, and your certified ID document. Contact GEPF to report the incorrect linkage and request a correction. Include the GEPF reference number for the correction request in your appeal.
Can later months be approved after the record is corrected? Yes. SRD is assessed monthly. Once GEPF corrects an incorrect record and SASSA’s systems update, future months should assess correctly. You do not need to separately appeal each future month once the underlying record is fixed.
What if the online portal blocks an older month? Submit a written appeal at your nearest SASSA office with your GEPF confirmation and supporting documents specific to the month you are challenging. The written process follows the same ITSAA review.
How do I avoid pension record scams? Use only official channels. Contact GEPF directly at enquiries@gepf.co.za or 0800 117 669. Never pay anyone to remove a pension record. Report suspicious contact to the GEPF fraud helpline on 0800 203 900 or to SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.
Official References
- SRD status portal
- SRD appeals portal
- SRD appeals guidance
- SASSA website
- SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
- SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
- GEPF website
- GEPF contact page
- GEPF email: enquiries@gepf.co.za
- GEPF toll-free: 0800 117 669
- GEPF fraud helpline: 0800 203 900
- Legal Aid South Africa
- Black Sash
