Social insurance pensions will be raised by 20%

The pensions will be increased by 20% on April 1, 2009. Such a percentage was calculated on the basis of the projected annual rate of inflation of 13% for 2008 and the 27% increase in the monthly nominal average salary, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the draft state social insurance budget law, 619,492 persons will benefit from pension rises in 2009. A sum of 5.44 billion lei was earmarked in the pension fund for the purpose, by 908 million lei more than this year. After raised, the average old age pension will be 797.54 lei, invalidity pension – 659.93 lei, heir’s pension – 436.36 lei, seniority pension – 1,287.59 lei. Over 125 million lei was included in the state social insurance budget for the pension program. This sum includes the distribution expenses. Under the pension program, 1,384 conscript military men and the members of their families will benefit from an average pension of 733.33 lei, while the 2,255 persons that participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident will receive by 1,594.41 lei on average. The monthly average pension for civil servants paid from the state budget will be 593.02 lei (5,365 beneficiaries), for local elected officials – 797.20 lei (368 beneficiaries), for prosecutors and judges plus annuities – 4,625 lei (405 beneficiaries). A sum of 4.24 million lei was allocated for paying pensions to 119 MPs (by 3,066.89 lei on average) and 3.16 million lei – for paying pensions to 86 members of the Government (by 2,972.86 lei on average). This is by 9.1% more on 2008. The pensions of these categories of beneficiaries are composed of two parts – 50% paid by the state and 50% paid from the state social insurance budget. The spending on pensions includes the pension distribution costs and the payments for bank services.