The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has released fresh guidelines concerning the payment of terminal benefits to teachers who either resigned or were dismissed from service. This announcement comes through Circular No. 12/2025, dated 18th August 2025, and is part of the ongoing implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between TSC and teachers’ unions—KNUT, KUPPET, and KUSNET.
For years, teachers who left service through resignation or dismissal faced uncertainties regarding whether they were entitled to any form of payment. Many were left in limbo, and in several cases, families of deceased teachers struggled without clear communication from the Commission. The new directive now provides long-awaited clarity.
Who Qualifies for Terminal Benefits?
The circular states that terminal benefits will be payable to:
- Teachers who resigned from service on or after 6th April 2018.
- Teachers who were dismissed from service on or after 6th April 2018.
- Beneficiaries of deceased teachers who meet the stipulated requirements.
This means that any teacher who left service before this date will not qualify under the new directive. For those affected, however, this is a significant relief that promises long-overdue recognition of their years of service.
Documents Required for Teachers
To process claims, teachers must prepare and submit a detailed set of documents. The list includes:
- Two photocopies of the National ID card (both sides).
- Two photocopies of an ATM/Bank plate or Sacco card.
- Duly completed payment of lump sum gratuity form (in duplicate).
- Duly completed option to commute pension form (in duplicate).
- Two photocopies of the KRA PIN certificate.
- Photocopies of all promotion letters (if any).
- Earliest pay slip showing WCPS deductions (for male teachers employed on or before 31st December 2020).
- An NSSF statement (for teachers with UT service).
- A sworn affidavit if names differ across documents.
- A bank/Sacco letter if the names on bank cards differ from the ID.
Teachers are advised to ensure these documents are certified where necessary and submitted in full to avoid unnecessary delays.
Documents Required for Beneficiaries
For the families of deceased teachers, the Commission has also listed clear requirements:
- The original death certificate (which will be returned after verification).
- Two photocopies of the death certificate.
- A Chief’s confirmation letter detailing next of kin, dependents, and contacts.
- A Sub-County Commissioner’s letter confirming closure of the deceased’s account.
- Two photocopies of the KRA PIN certificate of the next of kin or guardian.
- A declaration form (available from TSC County/Sub-County offices or via the TSC website under Media Forms → Widow/Widower/Dependents Declaration).
- Certified copies of IDs for next of kin, children, and declarant (by the area Chief).
- A photocopy of the next of kin’s ATM card.
- Certified birth certificates for all children under 24 years.
- School/college letters for dependents still pursuing education.
This clarity will save beneficiaries from the long back-and-forth processes that have previously delayed payouts for years.
Submission Process
The submission procedure is straightforward but must be followed carefully. Teachers or beneficiaries should:
- Submit all required documents through their TSC Sub-County Directors.
- The Sub-County Director will verify the documents and forward them to the County Director.
- County Directors will then forward the files to TSC Headquarters (Upper Hill, Nairobi) for processing at the National Treasury.
This structure not only decentralizes the submission process but also ensures accountability at different levels of verification.
Why This Circular Matters
Thousands of teachers who resigned or were dismissed in the last seven years have been living in uncertainty about their financial entitlements. Families of deceased teachers, in particular, have been most affected, often struggling to meet daily expenses while their loved one’s dues remain locked in bureaucracy.
This new directive represents a bold step by TSC to bring fairness, transparency, and closure to these cases. It also aligns with the Commission’s broader reforms aimed at digitalizing and streamlining teacher services. For context, earlier this year, TSC also launched the Digital Teacher Transfer System that now allows teachers—including JSS staff—to process transfers online, eliminating unnecessary paperwork.
Connection to Pension Reforms
This directive is not isolated. It ties directly into broader pension and benefits reforms that TSC and the Treasury have been working on in recent years. For instance, teachers who have been experiencing delays with their pension processing can now follow up through new tracking mechanisms. If your pension claim is stuck, check this guide: Is Your Pension Claim Stuck? Here’s How to Check if It Reached the Treasury.
In July 2025, TSC also published a list of 224 pension claims submitted to the Treasury, showing its increasing efforts to make the process transparent and efficient. Linking terminal benefits to this reform agenda means teachers and beneficiaries can now expect more openness moving forward.
Union Leaders React
The circular was officially copied to union leaders Collins Oyuu (KNUT), Akello Misori (KUPPET), and James Torome (KUSNET). While the unions have generally welcomed the development, they also caution TSC to ensure that implementation does not fall back into the same old bureaucratic delays.
Union leaders argue that teachers who dedicated their lives to the profession deserve timely payment of their benefits, regardless of how they left service. They also called for more sensitization forums so that teachers and families understand the document requirements and avoid unnecessary trips to Nairobi.
What Teachers Should Do Now
Teachers and beneficiaries are strongly advised to:
- Begin compiling the necessary documents early.
- Cross-check that details on IDs, bank cards, and other forms match to avoid rejections.
- Use TSC County and Sub-County offices as points of guidance before making official submissions.
- Follow up with Sub-County Directors regularly to track progress.
By being proactive, teachers and their families can significantly reduce delays in accessing their terminal benefits.
Wider Impact on Teacher Welfare
This directive is another demonstration of TSC’s intention to reform how it handles teacher welfare and benefits. By streamlining the process, the Commission is not only reducing the burden on beneficiaries but also reaffirming its commitment to accountability.
As the 2025–2029 CBA continues to unfold, more reforms are expected, including adjustments to hardship and commuter allowances. Teachers across Kenya are watching closely, hopeful that the Commission will follow through on promises to make service delivery more transparent and efficient.
Conclusion
The TSC’s new guidelines on terminal benefits mark a major milestone in safeguarding the rights of teachers who resigned, were dismissed, or passed away in service. For once, there is a clear path to accessing funds that had remained elusive for years.
Teachers and their families are urged to act quickly by preparing the necessary documents and submitting them through the proper channels. With reforms on pensions, transfers, and now terminal benefits, the Commission is clearly pushing to modernize its operations under the 2025–2029 CBA.
