FYROM:No money for social pensions The Union of Associations of pensioners in Macedonia, over 80,000 older people do not receive any income

The proposal of the Union of Associations of Pensioners of Macedonia for the welfare pension for all elderly people run into silence before the competent institutions. The Association said it had sent letters to the competent authorities and to all members, but still not received feedback, though unofficially told that so far no money for anything. That problem is confirmed in finance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. 
- Introducing social state pension will cause additional fiscal implications for the budget of the Fund PDF. The care of elderly people (over 65) who have no income on other grounds, provided by the Law on Social Protection - told us MSE Jakupi, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. 

According to her, in preparing the national strategy to protect the elderly, valid until 2019, which will include all aspects to improve the social and material status of this category of citizens. Our newspaper came to this document, but it does not mention the introduction of social pension. The Strategy as key objectives are suggested: improving the system of social protection of elderly, increasing support for families with elderly persons, opening counseling and day care centers, providing hot meals for the elderly and so on. According Dusko Shurbanovski, president of SZPM, the measure of the welfare pension exists in most countries of the world. 

- In Macedonia there are more than 80,000 people over 65 years not lead anywhere and do not receive pension from the state. What these people live? This category includes people older than 65 years, which for various reasons were the pension experience of more than 15 years, because they can not gain the right to retirement - as Shurbanovski. 

He calls the Constitution, under which Macedonia is a social state. 

Dear Argirovski, Secretary of SZPM says not giving up on their offer and will continue to push. 

- Recently I had a meeting with a delegation from Kosovo and Slovenia and the functions they measure. In Kosovo the elderly do not work or have 15 years of experience receive social pension of 45 euros. In Slovenia the amount of social pension reaches 70 percent of the retirement age even though there are three times cheaper drug prices from the positive list and three times higher salaries and pensions of our house - says Argirovski. 

The Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, meanwhile, argue that such a pension, and to adopt, will not go through the Fund. 

- Our institution operates on market principles as a kind of insurance company - how much you give, the more you receive. The beneficiary pays contributions, which then exercised the right to pension. Therefore a possible paying such a pension would likely through centers for social work as social aid - told us Trajko Premchevski, assistant director of the Fund. 

The conditions for acquiring the pension is defined in the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, as follows: a minimum of 15 years pension experience and 64 years (men) or 62 years (female). The law does not provide for return of funds paid on the basis of the pension and disability insurance.  
   
Author: Alexander S.. Dimkovska
http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=5810927362&id=10&prilog=0&setIzdanie=21978