How is the unapproved death benefit from my retirement fund paid?

The group life policy prescribes how the benefit must be paid. Many policies stipulate that the benefit must be paid to the person/s you nominated on your beneficiary nomination form.
The wording of policies might, however, differ from the situation described above and it may mean that the person/s you nominated on your beneficiary nomination form might not be entitled to benefit in terms of the policy, but could be taken into account during this allocation.
If you did not nominate anybody, the benefit will be paid to your estate.