GOV.BW

Applicants are required to register with the department of Social Protection at headquarters, district offices and Service Providers.

 Who can appoint a proxy?

• A beneficiary who is unable to collect their old age pension due to ill health, Old Age  or Physical disability may appoint any person of his/her choice, preferably a relative to receive the allowance on their behalf.
• A beneficiary may revoke a proxy or appoint another if still necessary.
• Proxy must produce his/her Omang during payments.

Life Declaration 

A beneficiary who receives the allowance through bank credit or through proxy is required to make a life declaration once in every six months, failing which the payment is automatically suspended until he/she declares, in which case he/she would be entitled to arrears.

How do i access missed payments (arrears)?

A beneficiary who is unable to collect his/her allowance during payments will be paid arrears cumulatively for a period of six months which he/she has to apply for through the department or service provider.

Conditions applied

• An old Age Pensioner who is serving a prison term or is on extra-mural sentence, payments are stopped up to the month he/she is released from prison or complete his/her sentence and he/she is not entitled to arrears for that period.
• Arrears can only be claimed within a continuous period of twenty three months from date of application. Arrears beyond twenty three months is forfeited.

• Visit the local tribal administration office to request a declaration letter confirming the veteran's participation in the war. For a list of tribal administration office across the country, click here.
• Take the declaration letter and supporting documents to the District Commissioner's office, requesting enrolment into the veterans pension programme. For a list of these Botswana Urban and District Council offices, please click here.
• Download and complete the Registration of Beneficiary Form or visit the Department of Social Services to complete the form and submit with relevant supporting documents.
• Indicate preference of payment either through the 12 month voucher book at the post office / Tribal administration office in his or her area or monthly bank transfer.

• Download and complete the Registration of Beneficiary Form​, and submit to the Social and Community Development Officer at the Department of Social Services and Community Development or Botswana Post Office closest to you.
• This may be done in person by the actual person to be considered as destitute, on or behalf of that person by anyone familiar with the person's situation.
• The Social and Community Development Officer would capture any additional necessary information at the time of the meeting, and subsequently conduct the necessary research and investigations into the financial situation of the person in question. 
• Once this is completed and a decision is made, the person in question would be contacted and advised of the outcome.

Download and complete the Pula Card Application Form and submit.