Title: Pension Payment Progress: March Arrears Settled, But Delays Trigger Financial Strain for Retirees
A Pledge and its Aftermath
While the Iranian Social Security Organization has made progress in settling pension arrears, significant delays in payments for the current year are creating financial hardship and eroding the value of fixed incomes for the nation’s retirees. Despite assurances from officials, many pensioners are still awaiting payments that were due months ago, leading to growing frustration.
Unfulfilled Promises and Mounting Concerns
Mohammad Hassan Mousavand, the Executive Secretary of the Lorestan Workers’ House, recently voiced strong criticism regarding the situation. He referenced a meeting held approximately two weeks prior with the Managing Director of the Social Security Organization, Mr. Salari, where assurances were given that the collection of a substantial government debt was in its final stages.
“We were assured by Mr. Salari that the collection of 70 billion Tomans in government debts was in its final stages and would be concluded within a week to ten days,” Mousavand stated. “We must ask, what happened? Why was this not finalized? Why are the arrears for a group of pensioners not being paid?”
Cascading Effects on Healthcare and Benefits
The financial delays extend beyond basic pensions, critically impacting supplementary benefits. Mousavand highlighted a severe six-month delay in the payment of premiums for retirees’ supplementary medical insurance. This has left many pensioners who paid for medical treatments out-of-pocket in a state of limbo, with their reimbursement claims left unpaid for half a year.
Similar issues plague life insurance policies for pensioners. Mousavand reported cases where several months have passed since a retiree’s death, yet the owed insurance compensation has still not been disbursed to their grieving family.
A Call for Accountability and Timely Action
Mousavand emphasized that the expectations pensioners had for the Managing Director have not been met. “Promises were made that have not been kept,” he said. “Retirees are tired of promises and pledges. The value of these arrears has been significantly diminished because they were not paid on time.”
He confirmed that many retirees contact him daily to voice their legitimate complaints, insisting that both the government and the Social Security Organization must be held accountable for these persistent delays.
The Official Timeline and Ongoing Uncertainty
While the head of the Kermanshah province Social Security office announced that a third phase of pension adjustments and arrears payments would be completed by mid-October, the national organization has yet to issue an official statement confirming this timeline. This lack of formal communication has left many pensioners, particularly those with higher pension amounts, in a state of uncertainty.
Reports indicate that the first two phases of these arrears payments were successfully distributed in early and late September. The organization has described this phased payment approach as a necessary measure for managing financial resources and ensuring the stability of its payment systems.
Pensioners now await an official announcement from the Social Security Organization detailing the exact schedule for the third payment phase, hoping for a swift resolution to the delays that have impacted their financial security.
