We look at one of the important benefits of the Motor Industry Provident Fund, namely the Disability Benefit.

The Disability Benefit provided by the Motor Industry Provident Fund is especially for MISA members who (through no fault of their own) became permanently or continuously incapacitated to perform their daily tasks.

MIPF Disability Benefit

Rule 6(7) of the Fund Rules provides that a ‘disability shall not be permanent or continuous if it can be substantially removed by surgery or any other medical treatment which the member, with due allowance for the risk and prognosis of success of such treatment, can reasonably be expected to undergo.’

The disability benefit is payable subject to the discretion of the Trustees and is as follows:

First year of membership – no benefit payout
Year 2 of membership – 20% of the full benefit
Year 3 of membership – 40% of the full benefit
Year 4 – 60% of the full benefit
Year 5 – 80% of the full benefit
After 5 completed years of membership – 100% of the full benefits.

Disability/incapacity in the workplace

In the unfortunate event that you become unable to fulfil your daily tasks, your employer should follow the guidelines provided in the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, Schedule 8: Code of Good Practice: Dismissals.

Under Item 11, the following guidelines are listed to consider whether dismissing a staff member arising from ill health or injury is fair or not and looks at the following:

Whether or not the employee is capable of performing the work. If the employee is not capable, consider

• The extent to which the employee is able to perform the work;
• The extent to which the employee’s work circumstances might be adapted to accommodate disability, or, where this is not possible, the extent to which the employee’s duties might be adapted; and
• The availability of any suitable alternative work.

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