Increase for Government Pensioners
By: , July 8, 2014The Key Point:
The Facts
- The increases, which are earmarked in 2014/15 Budget, are being paid to beneficiaries deemed eligible, and include the spouses and dependents of deceased public servants.
- The Accountant General’s Department and the Registrar General’s Department will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) later this month to facilitate the sharing of “critical” information needed to verify whether a pensioner is alive or deceased.
The Full Story
Approximately 27,000 of 34,000 Government pensioners are slated to receive increased payments totalling $500 million, by November.
The increases, which are earmarked in 2014/15 Budget, are being paid to beneficiaries deemed eligible, and include the spouses and dependents of deceased public servants.
Minister with Responsibility for the Public Service in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, made the announcement during his 2014/15 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, July 8, under the theme: ‘Consolidating the Gains toward Economic Reform and Public Sector Modernization’.
Mr. Dalley also announced that the Accountant General’s Department and the Registrar General’s Department will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) later this month to facilitate the sharing of “critical” information needed to verify whether a pensioner is alive or deceased.
This, he explained, forms part of the Finance Ministry’s undertaking to assist pensioners who are currently required to provide a life certificate every three months, to verify their status.
It is anticipated that the MoU will assist in reducing the administrative costs associated with the quarterly submission of the certificate.
“It is also envisaged that the issuance of life certificates will reduce the frequency with which pension payments are withheld or suspended because of non-submission,” Mr. Dalley stated.