Free tool
Death levy calculator for welfare groups
Work out how much each member should pay when your welfare supports a bereaved member, allowing for the members who pay late or not at all.
How the calculator works
The levy per member is the amount the welfare needs, divided by the number of members you realistically expect to pay, rounded up to a simple figure:
Levy = (benefit + costs) ÷ (members × share who pay), rounded up.
For example, a KES 50,000 benefit plus KES 2,000 for transport and charges needs KES 52,000. With 250 members and 85% paying on time, about 213 members pay, so each needs to pay KES 245, rounded up to KES 250.
Choosing the share of members who pay
Look at your last few levies. If 200 of 250 members paid by the deadline, your rate is 80%. A new welfare can start at 80–85% and adjust once it has its own history. Planning for 100% is the most common reason a levy falls short.
What to include in costs
- M-Pesa and bank charges for collecting and paying out
- Transport for officials attending the funeral, if your rules allow it
- A wreath or other agreed items
Beyond the levy
Many welfares pay a benefit from the fund straight away and use a levy to top it up or replenish the fund. Our guide on setting bereavement benefits and levies explains the models and how to size each one.
With Jalika's bereavement module, the levy is calculated from your rules, announced to every member by SMS, and each payment is tracked as it arrives.
Death levy questions
Something else on your mind? Talk to us.
What is a death levy?
A death levy is a one-off amount every member pays when a member or a registered dependant dies. The total goes to the bereaved member, often on top of a benefit paid from the welfare fund.
Why should the levy allow for members who don't pay?
In most welfares some members pay late or not at all. If you divide the amount needed by every member, you will fall short. Divide by the number you realistically expect to pay.
Should we round the levy up?
Yes. Round up to a simple amount such as the nearest KES 50. It is easier for members to remember and the small surplus can cover M-Pesa charges or go back into the fund.
Is a levy better than paying from the fund?
Each has trade-offs. Paying from the fund is faster; a levy needs no savings. Many welfares pay a benefit from the fund at once and use a levy to top it up or replenish the fund.
See Jalika run your welfare's own rules
Book a free 30-minute demo. We set it up with your contribution amounts, benefits and approval steps, so you see exactly how it works for your members.