ContributionPunguza Malipo Change
Phone NumberInstantly TodayKES 150 SHA Add
DependantsFamily RegistrationKES 100 SHA Employment
StatusEmployed · Self-Employed · UnemployedKES 150
SHA Contribution Too High? The Common Causes and What to Check First
Quick answer: a SHA contribution is usually too high for one of two reasons. Either your record still reflects an old job, or the information in your Means Test was wrong, whether you entered it or someone else did. You left work, but your employment status and Means Test were never updated, so SHA still assesses you on the income you used to earn. Check your status first, then your Means Test. If the amount is still wrong, see whether you can reduce your contribution.
People usually find out their contribution is high when a deduction stops or the amount on their account does not match what they can afford. This page explains the causes, shows the order to check them in, and tells you when to move on to the reduce and appeal pages.
The Most Common Cause: Your Job Ended but Your Record Did Not
Salaried members pay a deduction from their salary, so the amount follows the job. When the job ends, the employer stops paying, but the SHA record can still show you as employed, on the old income. If nothing changes, the amount you see still reflects a salary you no longer earn.
You were employed and your employer paid your SHA contribution every month. The job ends through resignation, dismissal or the business closing. You never update your employment status, and you never redo the Means Test. Your account still shows the old amount, and you cannot tell how to pay it.
The Second Cause: Wrong Information in the Means Test
The Means Test sets your contribution from the answers you give about your income, household and assets. If an answer is wrong, the amount is wrong too. The mistake can come from you, or from someone who filled the form in for you.
An agent, a relative or a friend completed the Means Test to help you register. They guessed some answers or put in a higher income than you earn. Your contribution was then set on that information. You may not have seen the answers at the time, so the amount looked like a system decision.
The wrong answers that most often push the amount up are:
- Income higher than what you actually earn, often an estimate given at the time of registration.
- Assets or property recorded that you do not have, or that you have since sold or lost.
- Household size or dependants entered incorrectly.
- A default amount applied because the Means Test was never fully completed.
What to Check, in Order
- Check your current employment status. Log in to afyayangu.go.ke or dial *147# and see whether SHA still shows you as employed. If it does, that is the first thing to correct. See how to change your employment status.
- Redo the Means Test if your circumstances changed. Answer it on your current income, not the income you had when you were employed. Check every answer for mistakes, including any answers someone else gave for you. See the SHA means test guide.
- Check the amount against the formula. If you are salaried, compare the deduction with 2.75% of your gross monthly salary, with a KES 300 minimum. See how the SHA premium is calculated.
- If the amount is still too high, decide your next step. If you can reduce it, read whether you can reduce your SHA contribution. To ask SHA to review it, follow the appeal guide.
Do not stop paying your current amount while you update your status or redo the Means Test. Stopping can make your cover inactive. If you think you owe past months, see the SHA arrears penalty.
Is the Amount Wrong or Correct?
| What you see | What it usually means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Still shows you as employed after you left work | Employment status not updated | Update your status, then redo the Means Test |
| Salaried, deduction is more than 2.75% of gross | Possible payroll error | Ask your employer to check the deduction |
| Salaried, deduction is exactly 2.75% of gross | The amount is correct | Read whether you can reduce it |
| Amount is higher than your income, and you did not enter the Means Test answers yourself | Wrong information entered, possibly by someone else | Check each Means Test answer, correct them, then ask for a review if still wrong |
| Non-salaried, amount is higher than your income | Means Test answers may be out of date or wrong | Redo the Means Test, then ask for a review if still wrong |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my SHA contribution still high after I lost my job?
Usually because your employment status and Means Test still reflect the job you had. SHA assesses the record it holds. Update your status and redo the Means Test on your current income.
Will updating my employment status lower my contribution straight away?
Not necessarily. How and when SHA recalculates depends on its process. Update your status and Means Test first, then check your afyayangu.go.ke profile and ask SHA if the amount has not changed.
What if someone else filled in my Means Test and got it wrong?
The amount is still based on the answers on your record, so it is still worth correcting them. Check each answer against your real income, household and assets, then redo the Means Test or ask SHA how to correct the record. Keep a note of what you changed.
Can I still ask for a review after I update my status?
Yes, if the amount is still wrong. You can ask SHA to review it once a year through Contributions Appeal on *147#. The review does not guarantee a lower amount.
Should I keep paying while I wait?
Yes. Keep paying your current amount until SHA confirms a new one. Stopping can make your cover inactive.
How is the SHA premium calculated for a salaried member?
2.75% of gross monthly salary, with a KES 300 minimum. There is no upper cap. See how the SHA premium is calculated.
Not sure what is driving your amount?
Send us your employment situation and the amount on your account. We will tell you which step to check first.
Check on WhatsAppDisclaimer: MyCyber is an independent educational website and is not affiliated with the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Ministry of Health, or the Government of Kenya. SHA decides contribution amounts and any review outcome. Verify at afyayangu.go.ke or call 0800 720 601
