This is a growing collection of topics aimed at developing a broader understanding of personal injury claims to assist professionals in the medico-legal industry. While these are generally accepted principles, there may be differing opinions.

Employer Certificates

An employer certificate is a valuable form of collateral that can provide information missing from other sources. Tax certificates do not separate fringe benefits, payslips can exclude fringe benefits and do not provide accurate average earnings, and claimants forget to mention company contributions. 

It is common practice for IOP reports to have certificates from each employer, but they often exclude vital earnings information. For reference, this set of questions can be used to ensure the earnings information is complete:

General information:
  • Date:
  • Employer:
  • Claimant’s name: 
  • Date of engagement:
  • Date of accident:
Earnings at the time of the accident:
Kindly provide the value of the claimant’s earnings at the time of the accident:
  • Basic salary: R _________ per week/month/year
  • Average overtime: R _________ per week/month/year
  • Bonuses: R _________ per week/month/year 
  • Company contribution to medical aid: R _________ per week/month/year 
  • ER pension/provident (as a percentage of basic salary): ______ %.
  • EE pension/provident (as a percentage of basic salary):  ______ %.
  • What other benefits did they receive: _______________ R _________ per week/month/year
Convalescence period:
  • Date returned to work:
  • How much was the claimant paid during their absence? R _________ per week/month/year.
  • Which benefits were paid during absence? (i.e. ER medical aid, bonus) 
Current earnings (if applicable):
Kindly provide the value of the claimant’s current earnings:
  • Basic salary: R _________ per week/month/year
  • Average overtime: R _________ per week/month/year
  • Bonuses: R _________ per week/month/year 
  • Company contribution to medical aid: R _________ per week/month/year 
  • ER pension/provident (as a percentage of basic salary): ______ %.
  • EE pension/provident (as a percentage of basic salary):  ______ %.
  • What other benefits do they receive: _______________ R _________ per week/month/year
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