INTRODUCTION
The UKZ Chema constitution has provision for members to register a maximum of 4 nominees or beneficiaries who will be entitled to a pay-out in the event of their deaths. It is not a must for members to have nominees. However, it is beneficial for the member to register nominees because the membership fee & contributions are meant to cover you, the member & four other people (your nominees). Therefore, you're losing out if you don't have nominees.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. Who is eligible to be a nominee?
This is adequately explained in Section 4.2 of the Constitution. You will find the UKZ Chema Constitution on this link: https://ukzchema.co.uk
2. How many nominees are allowed?
A member is limited to only 4 nominees of any age. However, nominees from the age of 16 can later choose to be members in their own right.
3. Can you just take a friend or acquaintance and make/her your nominee?
A nominee should be related to the member & this should be stated on the application form. However, the association cannot make a ruling on the nature of this relationship.
4. Who is next of kin? Is he/she a nominee?
In the event of the member's death or incapacity, the association will communicate with the next of kin. However, your next of kin (NOK) is not automatically a member by virtue of his being your next of kin. He or she does not have to reside in UK or Ireland whereas a nominee has to be a resident of UK and Ireland. If you want to include your NOK as a beneficiary, entitled to pay-out, you have to register him/her as your nominee. Therefore he/she will have to satisfy all the nominee requirements.
5. What is required to register a nominee?
The member must fill in a registration form giving: the full name of nominee; nature of relationship; the date of birth; proof that he/she is a resident of UK or Ireland; proof of residential address.
6. AMENDMENT OF NOMINEES
6.1. Change of Address of Nominee
UKZ Chema must be notified of the nominees change of address by email to: amendments@ukzchema.co.uk.
If a nominee relocates to another country, he/she immediately ceases to be a nominee. However, if he/she is just visiting another country, the nominee is covered only for the first 6 months of the visit. The member must notify UKZ Chema by email to: admin@ukzchema.co.uk specifying: date of leaving the country; country visited; when expected back. This is important because if death occurs while outside UK or Ireland, UKZ Chema will require proof of travel in the form of flight dates & passport stamps will be required to honour the claim.
6.2. Changing/Replacing or Amending a Nominee
6.2.1. What Reasons Are Acceptable for Replacing a Nominee or Changing Nominees Structure?
- When a nominee or nominees become deceased.
- When a nominee or nominees become full members in their own right.
- When there is new birth.
- When a nominee relocates.
- When relationships change.
- When the family structure changes due to several factors: marriage, divorce, maturity, relocation, etc.
(Note: Your reason for changing should be genuine and will be approved or rejected by the UKZ Chema board. Change of nominee should not be triggered by an urgent need to cover a certain individual who has fallen seriously ill & is at the point of death.)
6.2.2. Who Qualifies as A Replacement Nominee?
Here, we are referring to the replacement of a deceased nominee: (Section of the UKZ Chema Constitution).
Any individual who meets the criteria of eligible nominees qualifies to replace a deceased nominee.
6.2.3. When do you replace a deceased nominee?
The Constitution provides that you can only do this after 4 years from the date of death. However, the amendment window period of 15 September to 15 October of the year in question still applies.
Note: You can amend all the other surviving three nominees at any time, subject to amendment window.
6.2.4. How Do You Go About Amending or Replacing a Nominee?
- Log into your account profile & go to.................
- Fill in standard form stating nominee to be replaced & the reason for replacement.
- Fill in details of the new nominee: name, date of birth, residential address, relationship.
- Submit amendment request to: amendments@ukzchema.co.uk
- Wait for the response: approval or disapproval. You will be given a reason for any disapproval.
6.2.5. What is the effective date of registration / amendment?
All amendments are subject to the window period of 15 September to 15 October of every year. This is the only time you can do your amendments. It means that any amendments which you may do at any other time during the year will only become effective from 15 September onwards. However, they will only be eligible for pay-out after the 3 months waiting period: i. e. on 15 December of that year.