Question:
I have 3 retirement annuity policies that are paid up and I am 53 years old. Can I get this money now, because I am unemployed and need the money?
Answer:
Anita,
That is not possible at the moment, unless you suffer from ill-health, or plan to emigrate from South Africa. Otherwise, you can only access your retirement annuities at age 55, even though they are paid up. Remember, you will have to use two-thirds of your fund value to purchase an annuity (unless the fund value is less than R75 000), and the younger you are, the less your annuity will pay out annually.