Title: Landmark Agreement Reached: Final Deadline Set for Settling Pensioners’ Benefits
In a significant development aimed at resolving longstanding financial concerns, Iran’s Social Security Organization has announced a definitive timeline to clear all outstanding pension payments and medical insurance claims.
Breakthrough After Intensive Negotiations
The decision was finalized following a series of critical meetings between senior management of the Social Security Organization and representatives from the High Council of Retirees. These high-level discussions focused on addressing the delays in medical and supplementary insurance reimbursements, which had been a primary source of concern for the pensioner community in recent weeks.
Financial Mechanism for Settlement Unveiled
During the latest session, Dr. Dehdashti, the Deputy Head of the Social Security Organization, presented a clear plan for financing the overdue payments. He announced that the process of securing 70 million Tomans worth of “GAM” credit certificates has been completed.
“Upon the liquidation of these certificates,” Dr. Dehdashti stated, “the payment of pensioners’ arrears and the settlement of their medical expenses will be prioritized.”
These government-issued financial instruments are designed to settle outstanding debts with organizations and contractors, providing the necessary liquidity within the banking system. A significant portion of these resources has been allocated to cover liabilities arising from the March salary increases and supplementary medical insurance costs.
Clear Timetable for Medical Reimbursements
A central point of the agreement is the resolution of delayed medical reimbursements handled by the Atiesazan Hefaz insurance company. For the past six months, many retirees have faced financial strain, having to pay substantial medical costs out-of-pocket while awaiting reimbursement.
To address this, Social Security managers have pledged that all outstanding medical claims from the period spanning March to September will be settled by the end of the Iranian month of Mehr (October 22, 2024). Payments will be made in stages, with priority given to retirees with high medical costs or those with specific critical illnesses.
Officials emphasized that with the allocation of resources from the GAM certificates, the insurance company will be fully equipped to clear all pending medical dues. Furthermore, measures have been established to ensure future supplementary insurance payments are made on a regular and uninterrupted cycle to prevent a recurrence of such issues.
Cautious Optimism and Forward-Looking Reforms
The High Council of Retirees issued a statement welcoming the new commitment with cautious optimism. “While the pledge for payment by the end of Mehr can alleviate some of the retirees’ concerns,” the statement read, “past experiences have shown that the realization of these promises depends on the actual provision of resources. Follow-ups will continue until the full transfer is complete.”
The Council’s statement also underscored that pensioners should not bear the cost of the organization’s financial imbalances and called for the government to meet its legal obligations in funding the Social Security Organization in a timely manner.
Concurrently, social welfare experts have highlighted that while the issuance of GAM certificates provides a temporary solution to the liquidity crisis, long-term stability in pension and insurance payments must be guaranteed through structural financial reforms and increased transparency of resources.
With the promise of a full settlement by late October, millions of pensioners now await the practical implementation of this commitment. The precise execution of these pledges is seen as a critical step not only towards restoring trust but also in enhancing the financial efficiency and social credibility of the Social Security Organization. Officials have firmly stated that no case will remain unresolved, ensuring a comprehensive settlement of all arrears.