Road Accident Fund funeral claim
✅ You can claim funeral expenses from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in South Africa, if someone financially supported you, died in a car accident. Here’s a breakdown of the RAF funeral claim process:
What the RAF Covers
- 📌 The RAF reimburses reasonable costs for burial or cremation, up to a specific limit
- 📌 This doesn’t include expenses like tombstones, catering, or venue hire
Who Can Claim
- 📌 You can claim funeral expenses if you were financially dependent on the deceased and covered the funeral costs.
- 📌 This could be a spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian.
Documents Required
To claim funeral expenses from the RAF, you’ll need to submit various documents, including:
- ☑️ Certified copy of the deceased’s ID document (birth certificate or passport)
- ☑️ Certified copy of your ID document (claimant)
- ☑️ Affidavit attesting to your relationship with the deceased and how they died
- ☑️ Proof of payment for the funeral expenses (invoices and receipts)
- ☑️ Death certificate
- ☑️ Police accident report (copy)
- ☑️ Medical records of the deceased (if available)
- ☑️ Bank indemnity form (completed and signed by you and stamped by your bank)
Claim Process
- Gather Documents: Collect all the necessary documents mentioned above.
- Contact the RAF: There are three ways to initiate your claim:
- Call the RAF Call Center: 087 820 1 111 (have the deceased’s RAF claim reference number ready, if available).
- Email the RAF customer service: complaints@raf.co.za (include all relevant details in the email).
- Visit your nearest RAF office (find a list of offices here: https://www.raf.co.za/Contact-Us/Pages/Regional-Offices.aspx).
- Submit your Claim: Complete the RAF claim form (RAF1) if requested and submit it along with all the documents.
- RAF Investigation: The RAF will investigate the claim and may request further information.
- Settlement: Once approved, the RAF will offer a settlement amount for the funeral expenses. You can negotiate this amount with the help of a lawyer if needed.
- Payment: If you accept the settlement, the RAF will process the payment within their timeframe (ideally within 180 days of the settlement agreement).
Important Considerations
- ☑️ Time Limit: There’s a three-year time limit from the date of the accident to lodge a claim for funeral expenses with the RAF.
- ☑️ Legal Representation: Consider consulting with a lawyer specializing in RAF claims. They can guide you through the process, ensure you have the correct documentation, and potentially help negotiate a better settlement.
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful:
- 📌 RAF Claims – How to Claim: https://www.raf.co.za/Claims/Pages/How-To-Claim.aspx
