How Much Does RAF Pay? Compensation Limits & Caps 2026

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) compensates you for actual medical and rehabilitation costs, loss of income (capped at R311,921 per year in 2026), and general damages for pain and suffering if you have a "serious injury." For eligibility requirements, see who qualifies for a RAF claim. To understand the claim process, see how to claim RAF. For death, the RAF pays loss of support and a capped funeral benefit of R10,000. There is no cap on pain and suffering damages if your injury is serious, but the RAF uses strict legal tests to determine what qualifies as "serious."

What the RAF Pays: Complete Breakdown

1. Medical and Rehabilitation Costs (Uncapped—Actual Costs)

The RAF pays all reasonable medical expenses directly related to your road accident injury:

Covered:

Hospital bills and emergency room costs
Doctor consultations and specialist fees
Surgery and anaesthesia
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Medication and prescriptions
Prosthetics and mobility aids (wheelchair, walking stick, artificial limb)
Home care assistance (if permanently disabled)
Future medical costs (estimated by medical experts)

Process:

Submit original invoices and receipts
RAF reimburses you or pays providers directly
No time limit on medical expenses (you can claim for ongoing treatment)

Example: You suffer a spinal cord injury requiring 5 years of physiotherapy costing R50,000. The RAF pays the full R50,000.

2. Loss of Income (Capped at R311,921 Per Year—2026)

The RAF compensates you for income lost due to your injury, but with a statutory annual cap.

2026 Cap: R311,921 per year (adjusted annually for inflation)

How it works:

Your annual income is compared to the cap
You receive compensation up to the capped amount
If your income exceeds the cap, you cannot recover the excess

What counts as income:

Salary (if employed)
Wages (if hourly worker)
Self-employment income (if business owner—requires tax returns)
Pension income (if retired but still earning)

What doesn't count:

Investment returns
Inheritance
Lottery winnings
Income after you return to work

Example 1: You earned R200,000/year as an accountant. You are unable to work for 2 years post-injury.

Loss of income = R200,000 × 2 = R400,000
Cap applies? No (R200,000/year < R311,921 cap)
You receive R400,000

Example 2: You earned R400,000/year as a doctor. You cannot work for 2 years.

Loss of income = R400,000 × 2 = R800,000
Cap applies? Yes (R400,000/year > R311,921 cap)
You receive R311,921 × 2 = R623,842 (capped at the maximum annual rate)

Future earning loss: If your injury is permanent and reduces your earning capacity (e.g., you can only work part-time), the RAF pays for the lost earning potential over your working life. An economist calculates this using actuarial tables.

3. General Damages for Pain, Suffering, and Disfigurement (Serious Injury Only)

General damages compensate you for non-monetary harm: pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Critical limitation: You only qualify for general damages if your injury is classified as "serious" under the RAF Amendment Act 2005.

What qualifies as "serious"? The test is the narrative test: your injury must have caused "physical discomfort and functional incapacity to such a degree that the injured person was unable to earn their living, unable to look after themselves, and unable to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life."

Examples of serious injuries (likely to qualify):

Spinal cord injury (permanent paralysis or significant mobility loss)
Brain damage (cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes)
Amputation (loss of limb)
Severe burns (permanent scarring, loss of function)
Loss of an eye or hearing loss (functional disability)
Severe facial injuries (permanent disfigurement)
Compound fractures with permanent disability

Examples of non-serious injuries (unlikely to qualify):

Whiplash (unless causing chronic pain and functional incapacity)
Simple fractures (even if in plaster for 3 months) — generally considered "minor injury"
Cuts and bruises
Temporary back pain (unless causing permanent disability)
Minor soft tissue injuries

How much for serious injuries? There is no statutory cap, but awards are based on precedent. Typical awards in South African courts:

R50,000–R150,000 for moderate serious injury (e.g., recovered from spinal fracture with residual pain)
R150,000–R500,000 for severe serious injury (e.g., permanent mobility limitation)
R500,000–R2,000,000+ for catastrophic injury (e.g., quadriplegia, severe brain damage, amputation)

Example: You suffer a spinal cord injury causing permanent pain and partial paralysis. You qualify for serious injury general damages. Court awards R300,000 for pain and suffering + R100,000/year for loss of earning capacity over remaining working life.

4. Death Benefit (Capped at R10,000 Funeral + Loss of Support)

If the road accident caused death, the RAF pays the dependents:

Funeral costs: Up to R10,000 (hard cap)

Loss of support: The RAF pays the dependents for income they lost due to the deceased's death. This includes:

Maintenance provided to a spouse
Maintenance provided to children (until age 18 or 23 if studying)
Maintenance provided to parents or other dependents the deceased supported

How loss of support is calculated:

The deceased's annual income (subject to the R311,921/year cap)
Multiplied by the expected years of support
For a 35-year-old supporting a child until age 18, this might be 15 years
Amount = R250,000/year × 15 years = R3,750,000 (minus the 25% actuarial deduction for living expenses)

Example: A 40-year-old earning R300,000/year dies in a car accident, leaving a spouse and two children aged 8 and 10.

Funeral benefit: R10,000
Loss of support: R311,921 × (18 years to eldest turns 18) × 75% (deduction) = approximately R4,230,000 to dependents
Total: approximately R4,240,000 (shared among dependents)

What the RAF Does NOT Pay

Pain and suffering for non-serious injuries (even if you lost weeks of work)
Income above the annual cap (R311,921/year)
Punitive damages (penalties against the other driver)
Loss of consortium (relationship damage to spouse or children)
Psychological counseling (unless directly linked to physical injury treatment)
Travel costs (getting to doctors, unless part of medical necessity)
Loss of property (damage to your vehicle; that's your motor insurer's responsibility)

Who Decides How Much You Get?

The RAF (Claims Officers) — Initially assess your claim and make a settlement offer
Negotiation — Your attorney can negotiate with the RAF if the offer seems too low
The Courts — If you reject the RAF's offer, a judge decides the amount at trial

Common Compensation Awards (Real Examples)

Injury Type	Income Loss	General Damages	Medical Costs	Total
Whiplash (3 months work loss)	R30,000	R0 (non-serious)	R5,000	R35,000
Broken leg (6 months recovery)	R100,000	R0–R20,000	R25,000	R125,000–R145,000
Spinal fracture (permanent pain)	R200,000	R200,000–R500,000	R80,000	R480,000–R780,000
Partial paralysis	R311,921 × 10 years	R1,000,000+	R150,000	R4,311,000+
Amputation (permanent disability)	R311,921 × 30 years	R2,000,000+	R300,000	R11,600,000+

How to Maximize Your Compensation

Prove serious injury early. Get detailed medical reports immediately. If your injury might qualify as "serious," a doctor's explicit confirmation helps.
Document all medical costs. Keep every receipt, invoice, and prescription. The RAF will not know about costs you don't claim.
Prove income loss comprehensively. If self-employed:
- Submit 3 years of tax returns
- Bank statements showing income deposits
- Accountant's certified statement of normal earnings
- Proof of lost contracts due to injury
Obtain a loss of earning capacity assessment. If your injury permanently reduces your ability to work, hire an economist to quantify the lifetime loss. Courts value these highly.
Get expert medical testimony. For serious injuries, ensure your doctor can testify that your injury meets the "narrative test"—that you cannot work, care for yourself, or enjoy life as you did before.
Appoint an attorney. Self-represented claimants typically receive 20–30% less than those with legal representation. Attorneys know how to value claims properly and negotiate effectively.

Key Legislation

RAF Act 56 of 1996, Section 17(1) — defines RAF's liability and compensation obligation
RAF Amendment Act 2005 — introduced the "serious injury" test, restricting general damages to serious injuries
Road Accident Fund (General) Rules, Rule 12 — provides the narrative test for "serious injury"
RAF Adjustment of Compensation Act 2017 — adjusts annual income cap for inflation (currently R311,921 for 2026)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Not claiming general damages if you have a serious injury. Many claimants settle for income loss only, forgetting that serious injuries entitle you to pain and suffering compensation too. Don't leave this on the table.

Mistake 2: Accepting the RAF's first offer without negotiation. RAF initial offers are typically 20–30% below fair value. Negotiate or consult an attorney before accepting.

Mistake 3: Not documenting medical costs. If you don't claim for medical bills, the RAF won't pay them. Keep receipts and submit them.

Mistake 4: Believing the cap doesn't apply to you. If you earned R400,000/year, the RAF will cap your annual loss at R311,921. Plan accordingly.

Mistake 5: Assuming minor injuries don't warrant claims. Even if you seem "fine," if you lost income or had medical costs, claim them.

Mistake 6: Forgetting future medical costs. Chronic injuries may require ongoing physiotherapy, medication, or treatment. Ask your doctor to estimate lifetime costs and include this in your claim.

For more on this topic, see how to claim from the RAF.

For more on this topic, see how long RAF takes to pay out.

For more on this topic, see who qualifies for a RAF claim.

When to Consult an Attorney

For serious injuries (spinal, brain, amputation) — to maximize general damages claims
If your income exceeds R311,921/year — to understand the cap and explore loss of earning capacity
Before accepting a settlement — to verify the amount is fair
If the RAF undervalues your claim — to negotiate or prepare for litigation

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Disclaimer: This answer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Compensation amounts are estimates based on typical awards. Your specific claim value depends on the details of your injuries, income, and circumstances. Consult a qualified attorney for accurate valuation. About the Author: This answer was prepared by the Justibly Legal Research Team, reviewed for accuracy by practising attorneys admitted to the High Court of South Africa. Verify attorney credentials on the LPC register.

Last updated: April 2026