Moldovan cabinet to recalculate pensions of about 152,000 people two years earlier than initially scheduled

Chisinau, 20 December /MOLDPRES/ - The age limit and disability pensions established on the period 2012 – 31 March 2017, will be recalculated in 2018, and not beginning with 1 April 2019 and, respectively, 1 April 2020, as it has been earlier scheduled, according to a decision approved by the cabinet today.  

Thus, starting from 1 April 2018, the next stage of recalculation of the two types of pensions, set in 2012-2013, will be carried out before term and beginning with 1 October 2018, for the ones established in the period 2014 – 31 March 2017. In the next year, the recalculation before term will be made for 130,746 beneficiaries of age limit pensions, which represents an increase of about 300 lei monthly on average. The increase will exceed 280 lei monthly for 21,264 beneficiaries of disability pensions, Health, Labour and Social Protection Minister Stela Grigoras said at the cabinet meeting.     

„This is a very good amendment to the law, which removes earlier inequity – they contributed more to the social insurances budget, but lower and lower pensions were set for them as years were passing. We have managed to remove this problem gradually, depending on the financial capacity. The last stage was to be carried out in 2020. Yet, throughout 2018, we will manage to recalculate absolutely all pensions,’’ Prime Minister Pavel Filip said.

Also, the draft law approved by the cabinet today proposes the regulation of giving the right to age limit pension in advantageous conditions. In this respect, the persons should have a special length of service of at least ten years, both for men and women, at work places fitting special conditions, with a full period of contribution.  

On 1 November 2017, the recalculation of pensions before term was made for over 67,000 beneficiaries, for whom the payments were established in 2009-2011. Thus, the age limit pensions grew by 232-252 lei per month, which accounts for an increase of 15-16 per cent on average. At the same time, the disability pensions increased by 380-408 lei monthly or by 36-39 per cent. Initially, the recalculation of pensions for this category was scheduled for 1 April 2018. The authorities said that these increases had been possible due to the rise in budget revenues.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)