Injury on Duty benefits refer to workmen’s compensation paid in terms of the Compensation for Occupation Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993, guided by the Department of Public Service and Administration guidelines of 2005. These are non-contributory benefits that are funded by the state (National Treasury) and that are administered in collaboration with the Compensation Commissioner.

An Injury on Duty or IOD pension is a type of payment that is made to a government employee (or their dependants if they have passed away) who has suffered an injury, become infected with an illness or who has died while performing his or her duties. These benefits are:

• A lump sum payment for a government employee who is considered to have between 1 and 30% disablement due to an injury that occurred while they were on duty;
• A monthly pension payment for a government employee who is considered to have between 31 and 100% disablement due to an injury that occurred while they were on duty;
• Payment to support a widow or widower who had children under the age of 18 at the time of the spouse’s death (in the case of the death of a government employee that took place while they were on duty);
• Payment to support a widow or widower who did not have children under the age of 18 at the time of the spouse’s death (in the case of the death of a government employee that took place while they were on duty); and
• Payment to a guardian for children who were under the age of 18 at the time of the parent’s death (in the case of the death of a government employee that took place while they were on duty).