COIDA: 4.1% Increase in Monthly Pensions, Constant Attendance Allowance, and Schedule 4 Amendments

Posted 23 October 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Employment & Labour Law

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: Under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993 (COIDA), the Minister of Employment and Labour has published notices adjusting monthly pensions and constant attendance allowances upwards by 4.1%, alongside an amended Schedule 4 for compensation calculations.

Under section 49(4) for permanent disablement pensions and section 54(1)(a)–(d) for fatal injury and disease death benefits, monthly pensions will increase by 4.1% effective from 1 April 2026. The increase applies to accidents that occurred, and occupational diseases that were diagnosed, prior to 31 March 2026.

The Minister also issued an updated Schedule 4 to the Act, which determines the manner of calculating compensation for all claims arising from accidents occurring or occupational diseases diagnosed on or after 1 April 2026. The revised minimum and maximum compensation limits set out in the notice will govern all such new compensation assessments.

Key adjustments and parameters under the notices include:

  • Monthly Pension Escalation: A 4.1% upward adjustment applied across permanent disablement benefits under section 49(4) and dependent survivor pensions under section 54(1)(a)–(d).
  • Constant Attendance Allowance: An aligned 4.1% increase in allowances payable where an injured employee requires regular personal assistance due to total disablement.
  • Qualifying Cut-off Date: The pension increases apply exclusively to claims where the incident or formal diagnosis took place before 31 March 2026.
  • Amended Schedule 4: New prescribed calculation floors and ceilings applicable strictly to new claims registered from 1 April 2026 onward.

Click here to download the Department of Employment and Labour notice on COIDA pension and allowance increases.

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

  • For yourself: Incorporate the revised 4.1% escalation and Amended Schedule 4 ceilings when auditing or advising on compensation calculations, injury claims, and employee benefit provisions.
  • For your business: Update payroll and financial accounting systems to reflect the updated Schedule 4 compensation caps for workplace incident liability and verify that current monthly benefit disbursement records reconcile against the 4.1% increase.
  • For your clients: Ensure client HR and compensation claims officers apply the revised minimum and maximum thresholds for injuries and illnesses occurring on or after 1 April 2026, and confirm existing pensioners receive the gazetted 4.1% adjustment.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/coida-increase-in-monthly-pensions-and-constant-attendance-allowance

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