Financial dependency can be a key factor in determining death benefit allocation even though it does not automatically qualify one for a death benefit. This was illustrated in recent case where a customary wife was denied death benefits after her husband’s passing, while his girlfriend and children at the time of his death were able to prove dependency and got to share his death benefit of R4.5million.  Lester Kiewit discusses with Pension Funds Adjudicator, Muvhango Lukhaimane, the importance of nominating beneficiaries.