A new pensioner certificate renewal policy will be implemented from April 2026.

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) announced in a statement copied to JOYBUSINESS that the revised policy will introduce mandatory annual pensioner certificate renewal for all pensioners.

“Instructively, once an individual retires, whether at the compulsory retirement age of 60 or the voluntary age of 55, the pensioner must renew their Pensioner Certificate every year during their birth month to guarantee continuous payment of their pensions,” SSNIT added in a statement.

The new policy is designed to enhance the integrity of the SSNIT Pension Scheme by ensuring that pension payments go only to living and eligible beneficiaries.

It explained that pensioners may renew their certificates through several channels, including the SSNIT Mobile App using facial verification for both resident and non-resident pensioners, the SSNIT Virtual Branch, and SSNIT partner banks through their co-location points.

The state pension trust added that all SSNIT branches nationwide will assist to promote accessibility and inclusion.

It further indicated that arrangements have been made for pensioners with mobility challenges to undergo verification at home. Pensioners may also contact the SSNIT Contact Centre or book a home visit to complete their pensioner certificate renewal.

“Pensioners will receive reminders at least one month before their birth month via SMS, email or other approved communication channels,” it stated.

In October, SSNIT announced that it had made a payment of about five billion Ghana Cedis (GH¢5 billion) in pensions this year.

SSNIT, Ghana’s statutory public trust responsible for administering the country’s basic national pension scheme, mostly make payments on the 20th of every month.

The payment was confirmed by the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Kwesi Afreh Biney, during an appearance on Citi TV’s Breakfast show on Thursday, October 30.

He made these remarks in response to affirming the viability, capacity and commitment of the scheme to meet its obligations.

“What I will say is that we have successfully paid pensions since 1965. In 1965, only three pensioners were being paid. Today, we pay over 257,000 pensioners each month. This year alone, we paid in excess of five billion cedis in pensions. Is it sustainable? The trust will continue to evolve, we will continue to make it stronger, and we’ll put in systems to ensure that we never fail,” he noted.

Around October last year, multiple investigations and Right to Information (RTI) disclosures revealed that SSNIT had tied up over GH¢1.8 billion in underperforming or mismanaged real estate projects, which included commercial properties valued at GH¢1 billion, residential projects exceeding GH¢500 million, and land banks with questionable strategic value, sparking fears that poor returns could threaten the fund’s long-term sustainability. These fears, according to reports, still linger in the minds of some Ghanaians.

But the SSNIT Director General has assured the public that the scheme remains strong, highlighting that pensioners' pensions will not be in jeopardy.

Mr Biney acknowledged the shortfalls in the scheme and the challenges he inherited from the previous administration; however, he revealed that his outfit has worked on a three-year strategy to address these issues.

“The institution remains strong. There were challenges, but there were opportunities in there. I inherited challenges and positives, but we worked together to define a strategy for what the future will look like. This is a defined benefit scheme, so it’s one that we have to pay. It’s what the government even has to guarantee as well. So there’s nothing like the trust will fail, for which reason people’s pensions will be in jeopardy, non” he added.

During the Trust’s 60th anniversary in July, Dr Afreh Biney highlighted that the time it takes to process a pension has significantly dropped from several weeks to under ten working days.

He also touted the accessibility of SSNIT’s digital services, looking forward to rolling out its fully-fledged digital branch by September 2025.

He asserted that institutions survive not because they are flawless, but because they reflect, reform, renew, and take feedback constructively.

“The road ahead,” he said, “is challenging but also full of promise.” He added, “We must expand coverage, especially for the informal sector, because every worker deserves to retire in dignity. We must innovate with technology, deepen transparency, and strengthen public confidence, and we must do it with government, employers, labour, and civil society.”

“SSNIT must not just be a system people contribute to; it must be a partner they believe in,” he continued. “So yes, if you are over 60 and still dancing at parties, remember social security is 60 and still standing, still serving, and still strong. If the walls of SSNIT could speak, they would whisper stories of service, of quiet sacrifice, of hard lessons, and of a deep, unwavering belief in simple promises.”

Meanwhile, SSNIT paid a total of GHS521.96 million to over 257,000 pensioners in July. In a Facebook post, the Trust noted that the disbursement forms part of its commitment to ensuring the timely payment of pensions to retirees under the national scheme. Pensioners are expected to receive their next payment on August 21.

Earlier this year, SSNIT announced a 12% adjustment in pensions for 2025, starting in January, with payments scheduled for the third Thursday of every month.

This revision was made in coordination with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and complies with Section 80 of the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766).

As per SSNIT, all retirees receiving benefits as of December 31, 2024, will see an average increase of 12% in their monthly payments.

The adjustment includes a fixed increment of 8% along with an additional GH¢72.58, which accounts for 4% redistributed to assist lower-income pensioners.

“Redistribution is a mechanism applied to the indexation rate to cushion low-earning pensioners in conformity with the solidarity principle of social security.

As a result, pensioners will have an effective increment between 32.19% at the bottom end and 8.04% at the top end. Redistribution ensures that the minimum monthly pension of GH¢300 in 2024 will increase to GH¢396.58 in 2025, an effective increase of 32.19%,” a statement from SSNIT said.

This redistribution policy aims to provide extra relief for pensioners with lower earnings, following the social security solidarity principle.

Consequently, those receiving the least will experience a 32.19% boost, while those at the highest level will see an 8.04% rise.

With this revision, the minimum monthly pension will increase from GH¢300 in 2024 to GH¢396.58 in 2025. For retirees under PNDC Law 247, the highest monthly benefit will now stand at GH¢201,792.37, marking an 8.04% growth.

Meanwhile, the average pension will move from GH¢1,776.81 in 2024 to GH¢1,990.03 in 2025. SSNIT further disclosed that 63% of pensioners, particularly those earning GH¢1,814.50 or less per month, will benefit from increases ranging from 12% to 32.19%, ensuring their income keeps pace with inflation.