From: Pension Desk, read the below and contact your PFA Office for clarification, please.
*Retirement* is a journey, not a destination. Also, the process of retirement is more important than the goal. This is why I will be giving you the following advice so that you will avoid pitfalls that could cost you a fortune and also avoid delays. I pray that you take my advice seriously to avoid the following:
- non-payment
- non – remittance
iii. *under- remittance* and
- wrong capturing
- Visit your PFA, ask for your Comprehensive RSA Statement from 2004 till date, Sit down with it, and study it for any anomaly.
- Still with your PFA from (1) above, tell them you want to do your *Data Re-capturing/Update* This is needed to properly align your data with Pencom and prepare you for verification. No data update, and no verification. No verification, no pension payment.
- Make sure that your name with your PFA and your date of birth is correct. For instance: Sanusi Folake Adaobi is not the same as Adaobi Folake Sanusi (Principles of first name and last name).
- If the name on your NIMC and the one with your PFA is incorrect, you’ll find it difficult to undergo verification. The earlier you start this check and confirmation the better.
- Don’t think you have a year more. You are already out of the system. According to the psychology of retirement, from ages 35 to 45, is your pre-retirement stage. From ages 46 to 55, that is your exact retirement stage. And from ages 56 to 60, *YOU ARE ALREADY RETIRED. In fact, if you hold an exalted position, someone is already lobbying for it while you think you are still there. They can’t wait for you to go even as they laugh with you every day, they are counting down for you.
- If you do not have a Plan “B”, start thinking now of what you will do when you retire. The whole idea is to ensure that you retire for retirement. You have to still be engaged so that you do not grow old too quickly even if it is taking care of your grandchildren, as long as it gives you satisfaction.
- Do you know that if you are wrongly captured especially in your record of service which will also be submitted to your PFA, you might become a victim of wrong computation?
- Remove your mind from Programmed Withdrawal or Annuity options of retirement for now, your focus should be getting your verification right. You can start discussing that when you are duly verified.
- Let your children know that you are retired already so that you can concentrate on yourself. If you have a child that is 30 years and above that you are still supporting, advise them to go and learn a trade to be economically viable. If not they will eat deep into your pension as if you worked and suffered together
- Read 1 to 9 again and only ask questions on those areas.
