PENSIONS TO INCREASE IN ARMENIA FROM JANUARY 2009
Noyan Tapan
Se p 10, 2008
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged increasing the
pensions in Armenia from January 1, 2009: the base pension will make
5,800 drams instead of the current 5,000 drams (about 16 USD), the
main pension will make 7,950 drams instead of current 6,800 drams,
while the cost of 1 year of the insurance length of service will make
455 drams instead of current 395 drams, the RA minister of labor
and social issues Arsen Hambartsumian announced at the Septemer 10
press conference.
As a result of the indicated increases, the average amount of
insurance pensions will make 25,700 drams instead of current 21,900
drams, the average amount of social pensions – 10,200 drams instead
of current 8,800 drams, while the average amount of pensions paid to
servicemen and their family members will be increased to 20,400 drams
from current 17,700 drams. The minister said that an extra sum of 24
billion drams will be allocated from the state budget for this purpose.
According to A. Hambartsumian, thanks to a year-by-year increase
of pensions, it will become possible to ensure an average pension
making up 100% of the minimum budget of life support in 2012. It is
also envisaged registering the pension files soon which may allow to
raise pensions of 20 thousand pensioners.
The minister said that starting from 2010, a shift to the system of
cashless payment of pensions and benefits is envisaged in Armenia. With
this aim an interdepartmental working group was set up to implement
preparatory work.