Official Date Set for Long-Awaited Pension Arrears Payment
In a significant development for the nation’s retirees, the Social Security Organization (SSO) has officially announced a concrete timeline for the clearance of outstanding pension payments. The announcement was made by the organization’s CEO, Mostafa Salari, during a live virtual meeting with heads of provincial retirement associations.
The session, hosted on the Aparat platform, served as a direct channel for addressing the concerns of retirees. Mr. Salari provided a detailed and transparent overview of the organization’s financial challenges and the government’s collaborative efforts to ensure the stable and timely payment of pensions.
Navigating Financial Pressures
Mr. Salari outlined the SSO’s substantial financial commitments, noting an annual expenditure of 1,500 trillion tomans. While 1,200 trillion tomans of this is covered by insurance premiums, a significant gap of 300 trillion tomans must be secured from other sources. He detailed that this would be funded through a combination of dividends from affiliated companies (30 trillion tomans), government support (20 trillion tomans), and an additional 100 trillion tomans expected from the government, with the remainder to be covered by real estate revenues.
The CEO was candid about recent fiscal strains, citing a 32% drop in revenue collection the previous month. He attributed this partly to the recent 12-day conflict, which caused delays in the receipt of insurance premiums for the months of Khordad and Tir. This situation led to concerns about the ability to disburse pensions for the summer months. To prevent any delay in payments, the organization incurred a debt of 67 trillion tomans to the banking system.
Government Cooperation and a Path to Resolution
A key takeaway from the address was the emphasis on strong government support. Mr. Salari highlighted that for the first time, the organization’s request for the government to settle its debts has received a positive and concrete response. The government has agreed to a payment plan that exceeds the 185-trillion-toman debt settlement stipulated in the budget law.
Following a directive from the President to address the issue, a high-level meeting of the heads of the three branches of government was held. It was decided that the relevant law would be amended to facilitate the annual settlement of this 185-trillion-toman debt. From this total, 70 trillion tomans have been allocated to immediately settle the SSO’s debts in key areas, including medical centers and supplementary insurance.
A Firm Payment Schedule
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Salari delivered the crucial news retirees had been awaiting. He stated that the arrears for pensioners would be paid in the first half of the month of Shahrivar. Furthermore, supplementary insurance claims will also be settled starting from Shahrivar.
This commitment to clear arrears, coupled with the unprecedented government cooperation, marks a critical step in strengthening the nation’s social safety net and honoring the commitments made to its retired citizens.
