Road Accident Fund: Adjustment of Statutory Limit for Claims (April 2026)

Posted 24 April 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Road Accident Fund

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Road Accident Fund has announced the latest quarterly adjustment to the statutory limit for loss of support or income claims.

In terms of section 17(4A)(a) of the Road Accident Fund Act, No. 56 of 1996, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has adjusted the limitation of the Fund’s liability for claims for loss of income and loss of support. With effect from 30 April 2026, the adjusted statutory limit is set at R381,510.00.

This adjustment is published quarterly in the Government Gazette to ensure the cap on claims remains aligned with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation. The notice includes the specific calculation formula used to arrive at the adjusted amount, which is applied to the baseline amount established in 2008.

The adjustment applies to all claims for loss of income or loss of support where the cause of action arose on or after the effective date of the notice. Practitioners should note the following regarding the application of the limit:

  • The limit applies to the total claim for loss of income or support, regardless of the number of dependents or the duration of the loss.
  • The adjustment is procedural and mandatory for all claims processed by the Fund or litigated in court.
  • The calculation formula is intended to maintain the real value of the cap against inflationary pressures.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact channelled through professional advisory and litigation support for personal injury matters.
  • For your business: Update litigation templates, actuarial software, and claim valuation models to reflect the R381,510.00 cap for claims arising from 30 April 2026.
  • For your clients: Advise claimants that the maximum recoverable amount for loss of income or support has been adjusted upwards to mitigate CPI inflation, potentially increasing the quantum of their claims.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/road-accident-fund-new-claims-limit-adjustment-gazetted

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.