Iranian Retirees Gain Major Digital Boost and Expanded Benefits in New Welfare Initiative
In a significant move to enhance the welfare of its retired community, the Iranian government has announced a comprehensive package of digital and financial benefits aimed at simplifying access to services and improving quality of life.
Seamless Digital Access to Healthcare
A key announcement from Dr. Aladdin Azouji, Acting Head of the Civil Servants Pension Fund, centered on a major digital upgrade for the country’s retirees. Effective immediately, all processes for supplemental insurance, including payments and documentation, have been fully digitized.
“Our valued retirees no longer need to visit branches in person,” Dr. Azouji stated. “All procedures will now be carried out online and remotely.”
The Dana Insurance Company’s “Dana P” platform has been upgraded to remove previous financial caps, allowing retirees to upload medical invoices of any amount. The system will then automatically review and process the payments, a measure designed to “reduce travel for our dear retirees and facilitate their access to medical services.”
Expanding “Hope Houses” and Educational Programs
The official also outlined plans to develop “Hope Houses” across the country from mere meeting places into genuine service hubs for retirees. “We currently have 59 active Hope Houses,” he said, “and to transform them into real service centers, a major part of their activities must be dedicated to educational, health, sports, and electronic services.” The plan is to leverage successful models from provinces like Isfahan and Kermanshah.
Furthermore, a nationwide program on “Retirement and Senior Lifestyle Education” is set to launch this winter. In cooperation with specialized organizations, the program will provide training on healthy living, psychological and social skills, and preventing social isolation.
Revival of Subsidized Travel and New Welfare Packages
In a welcome update for retirees, the 50% subsidy for family trips using domestic tourism hotels has been reinstated following the resolution of previous contractual limitations. The goal is to more than double the number of retirees benefiting from this program, from the current 150,000 to over 300,000-400,000.
Dr. Azouji also revealed that a new welfare package is being prepared, which will focus on increasing purchasing power through discount schemes and low-interest loans, alongside the revived travel subsidies.
Financial Support and Inclusive Governance
The commitment to providing essential financial support continues, with 350,000 retirees slated to receive 4% interest loans from Saderat Bank by the end of the year. Bank Refah has also expressed readiness to increase its payment capacity for such loans.
Emphasizing a more inclusive approach, Dr. Azouji announced that three retirees, selected by retiree associations from across the country, will be appointed as managerial advisors to the Pension Fund’s CEO. “This is to ensure their valuable experience contributes to decision-making,” he explained, adding that if regulations permit, a representative will also be introduced as a supervisory board member to enhance transparency.
The meeting also served as a platform for representatives from retiree associations nationwide to present their views and priorities, ensuring their voices are central to the ongoing development of welfare policies.