Death in Service and Family Benefits
If a permanent civil servant dies while in service, their family is entitled to specific financial compensation and practical support from the Government. This guide sets out what families are entitled to, the conditions that must be met, the process for making a claim, and how the Government assists with repatriation of the deceased and their family.
Who Is Eligible for Death-in-Service Benefits
Death-in-service compensation applies to officers who hold a permanent and pensionable appointment in the civil service. The officer must die while still in service — that is, before retirement, resignation, or dismissal. The entitlement does not apply to officers on contract, temporary, or casual terms. If there is any doubt about the deceased officer's appointment status, the family should ask the Establishment Officer of the relevant ministry to confirm this in writing.
Compensation Under the Pensions Act Plus Government Additional Payment
The primary financial entitlement is calculated and paid under the Gambia Pensions Act. In addition to the statutory Pensions Act compensation, the Government provides an additional payment on top of the statutory amount. The combined sum — Pensions Act compensation plus the Government's additional payment — is paid as a lump sum to the deceased officer's estate or their nominated next of kin. The Accountant General's Department administers the payment in coordination with the officer's ministry.
Cases Arising From Duty Injuries or Official Air Travel
The enhanced death-in-service benefits apply specifically where the officer's death arose from an injury sustained on duty or from an accident during official air travel. This is an important qualifying condition for the additional Government payment beyond the standard Pensions Act sum. Deaths from illness unrelated to duty conditions are covered by the standard Pensions Act provisions but may not attract the full additional Government payment. The ministry must establish and document the connection between official duty and the death.
Free Repatriation for the Family and Personal Effects
The Government provides free transport to repatriate the family of the deceased officer and their personal household effects to their home area. This benefit applies where the officer was posted away from their home region at the time of death, leaving the family in accommodation tied to the posting. The Head of Department arranges repatriation transport through government logistics or through the Directorate of Works and must notify the Permanent Secretary to initiate this support promptly.
How the Family Should Make the Claim
The next of kin or executor of the deceased officer's estate should contact the Establishment Officer of the officer's ministry as soon as practicable after the death. They will need to provide: the officer's staff identity number and appointment letter; a death certificate; evidence of the relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates for children); and, where relevant, documentation of the duty-related circumstances of the death such as an accident report or duty travel orders. The Establishment Officer will coordinate with the Accountant General's Department to process the claim.
Government Quarters and Other Entitlements
If the deceased officer was occupying a government quarter, the family is normally permitted a reasonable period of grace — typically one to three months — to vacate the accommodation after the death. This grace period is at the discretion of CORA and the relevant ministry. During this grace period the family is not charged notional rent. The family should write to CORA and the Head of Department immediately to agree the vacating date and avoid complications.
Outstanding Salary and Leave Pay
Any salary owing to the deceased officer up to the date of death must be paid to the estate. Where the officer had unused annual leave accrued at the time of death, the monetary equivalent of that leave should also be paid to the estate. The Establishment Officer and Finance Officer of the relevant ministry are responsible for calculating and processing these final payments. The family should request a written schedule of all terminal payments to be made, so that nothing is overlooked.