Prime Minister Pavel Filip said the average pension in the Republic of Moldova during the past three years grew by almost 50%. According to him, there are yet small pensions, but the average pension that is almost 1,800 lei for the first time exceeded the minimum subsistence level, IPN reports.

The Premier said the pensions of persons who entered the system after 2009 were recalculated in four stages. “Some people benefitted from higher raises, others from smaller raises, but anyway we brought things in order in this regard,” he stated.

Pavel Filip noted that the pensions lower than the minimum subsistence on January 1 this year were raised by 10%. Currently, those who get less than the minimum subsistence level receive by 180 lei in financial support. “When the pension is raised by 10%, there is a category of pensions that exceed this minimum subsistence level, but no one loses,” he said.

According to Premier Filip, earlier the pension plus this financial support represented a sum that was higher than the minimum subsistence level. “We should not forget that this financial support is a temporary measure, but the people now have a permanent pension. In fact, 453,000 persons benefitted from the 10% rise and only 40,000 didn’t get such financial support. In any case, they will not receive less than now,” explained Pavel Filip.

He also said that the cold-month allowance was increased from 315 lei to 350 lei. “Earlier such allowances were paid to persons with incomes of under 1,640 lei. (...) We raised this ceiling to 2000 lei and thus another 50,000 people from this year will benefit from such financial support,” stated the Premier.

The law concerning the reexamination of old-age pensions for persons who worked after retirement took effect on January 1, 2019.