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Sanlam Funeral FAQs

What is funeral cover or funeral insurance?

  • Funeral cover is a form of insurance that pays a specified amount of money in the event of a death, ensuring that the costs of a funeral will be covered so that family members do not have to struggle financially at this difficult time.

How does funeral insurance or funeral cover work?

  • Funeral insurance works in much the same way as other types of insurance. You decide how much funeral cover you want to buy and then you pay a monthly premium.
  • You choose who to cover.
  • Some funeral insurance policies also give you other benefits like burial repatriation, grocery benefits or cashback.
  • If you or your loved ones die, the money is paid out.
  • A decision to take out funeral insurance should form part of a proper financial plan.

How do the Sanlam Funeral Plans work?

  • Sanlam Funeral Plans offer you a choice of products, each with different benefits to suit individual needs.
  • There are no medical questions to answer or blood tests required.
  • You can speak to a financial advisor or you can buy a policy online yourself.

Why a Sanlam Funeral policy?

  • Sanlam Funeral Plans give you flexibility to choose the amount of cover you need and the Plan with the benefits that suit your family’s needs.
  •  You can choose from 5 different funeral plans to meet your family’s needs. You can choose to cover yourself, your immediate family as well as your wider/extended family members.
  • You can cover up to 22 people.
  • From only R25 a month you will be able to honour your loved ones with a dignified  funeral.
  • On some of our plans you can save any amount from R10 a month for 5 to 15 years.

How long does it take for a claim to be paid?

Sanlam pays most funeral claims within 4 hours, after all supporting documents have been received. Other claims may take up to 24 hours or longer if further validation needs to be done.

What documents should I prepare when claiming if a loved one covered in your policy dies?

If you want your claim to be paid out in time, you need to make sure that you complete the funeral claim form and have these supporting documents:

Cause of death: Natural (for example illness)

  • Fully completed funeral claim.
  • A certified copy of the official death certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
  • A certified copy of the deceased’s identity.
  • A certified copy of the claimant’s identity.
  • Proof of bank account into which the claim will be paid (Bank statement stamped by the bank).
  • Fully completed BI/DHA 1663 or BI/DHA-1680.

Cause of death: Unnatural (for example accident/ murder)

  • This completed funeral claim.
  • A certified copy of the official death certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
  • A certified copy of the deceased’s identity.
  • A certified copy of the claimant’s identity.
  • Proof of bank account into which the claim will be paid (Bank statement stamped by the bank).
  • Fully completed BI /DHA1663 or BI/DHA-1680.
  • Fully completed police report.
  • Post mortem report.
  • Road accident report (if cause of death was as a result of a motor vehicle accident).
  • Inquest verdict (may also be requested depending on the circumstances surrounding the death).

All supporting documents can be sent to deathclaims@sanlamsky.co.za or faxed to (011) 388 3011.

When will I know if my claim will be paid or not?

When the money is transferred, you will receive an SMS notifying you of the transfer. You should also receive a notification from your bank.

If for any reason your claim is delayed as result of missing requirements, we will send you an SMS to make you aware of the missing documents and one of our contact centre consultants will give you a call.

If your claim will not be paid because terms and conditions were not followed, an SMS will be sent to you.  We will also inform you via letter (sent via communication method you prefer whether post, fax or email).

How will clients know if your claim is approved and paid?

If you have given us your cell-phone number, you will receive an SMS confirming that your claim will be paid out. 

It’s very important that you make sure you update your details with us so that we can keep you informed at every stage of your journey with Sanlam.

Are there any reasons why my claim would not be paid in 4 hrs?

If a claim is sent for verification, processing the claim can take between 5 and 21 working days. Verification is part of our risk management process where an assessor is assigned to validate the claim.  If your claim is sent for verification, we will keep you informed every step of the way.

In the unfortunate event that we have a backlog as a result of load shedding, Telkom faults or any situation beyond Sanlam’s control, your claim may not be paid in 4hrs.

We will be in contact with you at every stage of the process.

I’ve submitted my claim via CSC or CCC, when can I expect feedback?

Once Sanlam receives the right documents the claim will be processed within 48 hours. But, if we receive all the necessary documents and your claim does not need to be validated, your claim may be processed within 4 hours.

If for any reason your claim is delayed as result of missing requirements, we will send you an SMS to make you aware of the missing documents and one of our contact centre consultants will give you a call.

If your claim will not be paid because terms and conditions were not followed, an SMS will be sent to you.  We will also inform you via letter (sent via communication method you prefer whether post, fax or email).

Why are other claims not paid in 4 hrs?

Due to the level of complexity and specialised services needed for certain claims, the claims process can take longer. For example, a hospital claim will take longer as there is a lot of documentation that needs to be looked at. For investment claims, the value may need to be confirmed by the values department. Each claim is looked at individually and has its own process.

It’s been more than 4 hours, why has your claim not been paid?

Most of our My Choice Funeral claims are finalised within 4 hours. If not, there are several reasons why it has not been finalised, these could include;

  • There could be outstanding documentation.
  • The claim may have gone for validation.
  • Most of our My Choice funeral claims are paid within 4 hours, so if your claim is for a different product the process may be different.
  • Our staff work specific office hours and the time your claim was sent in could affect the time it takes for your claim to be processed.
  • In the unfortunate event that we have a backlog as a result of load shedding, Telkom faults or any situation beyond Sanlam’s control, your claim may not be paid in 4hrs.

How do I manage my policy/ change my personal information?

What other benefits does this funeral cover offer?

  • It depends on the type of Funeral Plan you chose.
  • Benefits may include the following:
    • Burial Repatriation Benefit.
    • Double Accident Benefit.
    • Grocery Benefit.
    • Cash Back Benefit.
    • Escalations.
    • Unemployment and Pregnancy Payment Holiday.
    • Premium Paid-Up.
    • Memorial Benefit.