UNMIK/PR/794
PRISTINA – Beginning 1 July 2002, Kosovo pensioners will start receiving Basic Pensions at the monthly rate of 28 euro. SRSG Michael Steiner on 26 July promulgated the law as adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 4 July 2002, setting the rate and payment date for Basic Pensions.
In order to receive payments pensioners should apply to the Kosovo Pension Administration up to and including 31 of October. Payments are made effective from 01 July 2002 or the date applicants turned 65 years old, whichever is the latter. Those applying after 31 October shall receive payments effective from the month in which application is made.
The disbursement of the Basic Pension will be implemented through pensioners’ bank accounts, which are being opened on behalf of the pensioners free of charge by the Kosovo Pensions Administration. It is expected that up to 110 thousand pensioners will initially benefit.
Due to the enormity of the task it will take some months to process all applications. The newly established Kosovo Pension Administration under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare expects that 5,000 applicants will receive their pension payment on 31 July. This number will increase significantly over the next two months. Those persons who are not paid in July or August will receive back-payment for those months thus not loosing any money as a result.
