Title: Landmark Social Welfare Expansion: Millions Benefit from Enhanced Pensions and Medical Coverage
In a significant move to bolster social welfare, Iran’s Social Security Organization (SSO) has successfully implemented a series of major enhancements, directly benefiting over 48 million citizens, which equates to approximately 53% of the country’s population. These initiatives, a cornerstone of the current administration’s focus on social welfare, are designed to protect the purchasing power of pensioners and substantially expand medical insurance coverage.
A Nation Under Coverage
The SSO’s extensive network provides comprehensive insurance and medical services to a vast segment of society. Current figures show the organization covers 16.55 million primary insured individuals, with an additional 22.48 million covered as dependents. Furthermore, it supports nearly 5 million primary pensioners and 3.91 million secondary pension recipients, underscoring its critical role in the nation’s social safety net.
Safeguarding Pensioners’ Livelihoods
A central achievement has been the successful implementation of a pension adjustment plan. Executed in accordance with the country’s Seventh Development Plan law, this multi-year strategy aims to align the pensions of non-minimum wage earners with 90% of the ratio their initial pension held to the minimum wage at the time of retirement.
This adjustment was rolled out in phases: 40% in the first year and 30% in each of the following two years. For the current year, the second phase of this adjustment was completed ahead of schedule by the end of Mordad (August), with a monthly sum of 3,200 Tomans distributed to 1.71 million eligible pensioners.
Protecting Purchasing Power
In a parallel measure to combat inflation and preserve the standard of living for retirees, additional financial support was allocated. Based on a decision by the SSO Board of Trustees, a special payment of 7.166 million Rials was made to pensioners whose adjustment was less than 10% of the current year’s minimum wage. This crucial support, funded through the national budget, ensured that the most vulnerable retirees received necessary aid. In total, over a defined period, the SSO allocated 34,000 Tomans to these pension adjustment and purchasing power protection programs.
Major Boost to Medical Aid Coverage
Beyond pension reforms, the SSO has also enacted a landmark 100% increase in coverage for medical aid devices. This enhancement, approved by the SSO board and fully implemented, provides greater support for over 100 types of essential medical equipment. This benefit extends to all compulsory and voluntary insured individuals, pensioners, recipients of disability and survivors’ benefits, and those covered by unemployment insurance, along with their dependents.
This comprehensive package of reforms represents a substantial financial commitment and reflects the administration’s dedicated focus on elevating the living standards and social welfare of the Iranian people.