Rewritten Title: Pensioners Await Full Implementation of 2024 Benefit Adjustments
Article:
A procedural delay in updating the base pension amounts for Iranian retirees has sparked calls for immediate government action. While annual adjustments have been calculated, they have not yet been permanently integrated into the core pension base, leading to concerns among retiree advocacy groups.
A Procedural Discrepancy
Retirees covered by the Social Security Organization have expressed dissatisfaction with how recent pension adjustments are being reflected on their pay slips. According to activists, the increases for the past two fiscal years have not been added to the base pension amount. Instead, the adjusted totals are listed separately or in the explanatory notes section of the slips.
This has prompted calls for the Social Security Organization and the government to urgently rectify the situation to ensure clarity and permanence for pensioners’ incomes.
Criticism of Current Pay Slip Format
Yadollah Faraji, a former labor official and retiree rights activist, highlighted the issue in an interview. “The adjustment increases were supposed to be fully registered in the pensioners’ base pension, but this action has not been carried out so far,” he stated.
He explained that while the total sum, including the adjustments, is mentioned in the notes, the base salary section itself remains unchanged. This creates a perception that the increases are temporary rather than a permanent enhancement of their pension base.
Faraji emphasized the necessity of embedding these adjustments directly into the base pension and called on retiree syndicates and the Social Security Organization to press the government for a swift correction.
Understanding the “Pension Adjustment”
The pension adjustment plan is designed to help balance the income of retirees with that of current workers. It is calculated using a specific formula that considers the minimum wage, the average wage, and the individual’s employment history.
Retirees expect these increases to be permanently factored into their base pension, which would ensure their compounding effect on future adjustments and provide long-term financial stability. The current method of listing them separately has raised concerns about their durability.
The Path Forward
Authorities have provided channels for retirees to verify their statements through the Social Security Organization’s online systems. In cases of discrepancy, individuals are encouraged to formally request a correction. Should the issue persist, collective follow-up through retiree associations is recommended.
This recent wave of feedback has placed additional focus on the Social Security Organization, with expectations that pay slips will be updated to reflect the adjustments in the base pension in the coming months.