Pensions Benefits

Benefits paid to officers who reach the mandatory retirement age under section 33 of the Pensions Act. Computed as last annual salary multiplied by length of service in months, divided by age in months. The officer may commute one third or two thirds as a lump sum using an age factor prescribed in the Act.

Section 33 of the Public Service Pensions Act No. 35 of 1996 sets 60 years as the mandatory retirement age.

Retirement Pension equals last annual salary multiplied by length of service, divided by age in months. The lump sum is two thirds of that figure multiplied by 23.26, and the monthly pension is one third of it divided by twelve.

An officer may apply for early retirement at 55 by applying twelve months before their 55th anniversary.

Members of the Defence Forces, Police officers at or below Chief Inspector, and Prisons officers at or below Chief Officer III may, on due notice, retire at 45 or after 20 years of service, whichever comes earlier.

At 55 years the lump sum is two thirds of the Retirement Pension multiplied by 25.84, and the monthly pension is one third of it divided by twelve.

The lump sum is the sum of contributions, plus the sum of contributions multiplied by interest at the Bank of Zambia rate, multiplied by the number of completed contributing years.

For an officer retired on abolition of post, or to improve efficiency or economy. The pension is last annual salary multiplied by length of service divided by age in months, plus last annual salary multiplied by the number of three year periods, capped at ten, divided by sixty.

Paid on medical evidence of permanent infirmity.

Where pensionable service is under ten years, the lump sum is contributions plus contributions multiplied by Bank of Zambia interest multiplied by completed years.

Where pensionable service is ten years or more, the pension is last annual salary multiplied by length of service divided by age in months where the infirmity is the officer's own default. Where it is not, add last annual salary multiplied by months to retirement multiplied by seven, divided by 7200.

The gratuity is the officer's annual pensionable emoluments, being the special death gratuity, plus a refund of contributions and interest at the Central Bank rate at the date of death.

Paid to the estate where pensionable service is at least ten and under twenty years, equal to annual pensionable emoluments at the date of death.

A surviving spouse and children receive a monthly pension until death or remarriage for a spouse, and until age 18 for children.

Under section 46(2), a child's pension is proportionate to the spouse's pension under section 45. With a surviving spouse: one child 25 percent, two children 40 percent, three 50 percent, four 60 percent, five or more 66 and two thirds percent. Without a surviving spouse: one child 50 percent, two 80 percent, three 100 percent, four 120 percent, five or more 133 and one third percent.

Where the deceased left no spouse and no children, the gratuity is annual pensionable emoluments, being the special death gratuity, plus a refund of contributions and Bank of Zambia interest at the date of death.

For an officer who dies in service after twenty years or more. Under section 34 the officer is deemed retired immediately before death.

The Retirement Pension is last annual salary multiplied by length of service divided by age in months. The lump sum is two thirds of that multiplied by the age factor, for example 31.30 at 40 years, 29.80 at 45 years and 28.00 at 50 years. The monthly pension is one third of the Retirement Pension divided by twelve.

The same proportions apply as for death in service between ten and twenty years. With a surviving spouse: 25, 40, 50, 60 and 66 and two thirds percent. Without a surviving spouse: 50, 80, 100, 120 and 133 and one third percent.