After the pension system reform was launched, the pension calculation formula was standardized and the privileged conditions enjoyed by particular categories of pension recipients were removed. As of this November, the National House of Social Insurance will provide an online calculator that the persons can use to determine the size of the pension that they would get. Gradually, the authorities aim to eliminate the necessity of collecting documents for setting the pension. The conclusions and commitments were presented in public hearings staged by the Parliament’s commission on asocial protection, health and family, IPN reports.
Deputy Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbraveanu said that a common pension calculation formula was agreed with the reformation of the pension system. The previous formula varied with the category of pensioners and the mechanism for collecting the documents needed for setting the pension was very complicated. The current formula is more transparent and ensures connection between the pension and the period during which the person paid social insurance contributions.
Viorica Dumbraveanu noted that the average old-age pension on October 1, 2016 was 1,304 lei, calculated according to the previous formula. Based on the new formula, the average old-age pension on October 1, 2017 was 2,119 lei. The valorization of the old-age and disability pensions in several stages is a new element of the pension system reform.
As regards the citizens who work in a state with which Moldova signed social protection agreements and the persons who work unofficially, but want to benefit from pension, these can file an application to the Moldovan authorities and ask to be allowed to pay contributions into the social insurance system.
In the hearings, Socialist MP Elena Hrenova said a lot of people complain about the small pensions and inequality as they worked for 40 years and had high salaries, but their pension was calculated based on a particular insurance period only.
According to Viorica Dumbraveanu, there are persons who worked for many years, but cannot confirm this by documents. For this category of people, the authorities ensure social assistance by providing social welfare, cold-month allowances and other benefits.
