Theft and exploitation of the elderly

My mom is a pensioner and is currently on the Bonitas BonCap Option. No income revision was done for the year 2021. No reminder for income revision was received for the year 2022. A penalty was deducted to the amount of R2989.00 over and above the monthly contribution. When we queried it, we were sent the income verification documents and told to provide an affidavit and bank statements. We were told if all the documents were provided the penalty would be reversed.

All documents were submitted and the email was marked for the attention of the consultant that I had initially spoken to ... however the query was not looked at even after leaving numerous messages for the consultant that I had initially spoken to.

About a week later I followed up and eventually spoke to the said consultant. She asked me to provide another affidavit to confirm that we had not received the income verification documents. This affidavit was done and sent through the next day. I was then told too much of time had past and that the refund request was declined.

I find this to be ridiculous as we have done everything that was requested of us. My mom is 70 years old and only receives her SASSA grant, with no access to technology. I can only imagine how other elderly people are given the run around and ********** their little money that they receive.

We stand by our statement that we did not receive the income verification documents.

My moms income has not changed in the past 24 months which all the documents support. I see no reason as to why the penalty cannot be reversed.

This is theft and exploitation of the elderly ...

Bonitas Medical Fund please refund the penalty.