A lot of information has been circulating in the public space lately about pensions, some real, some not so real. That is precisely why the authorities are sounding the alarm so that Romanians only get information from official sources.
Romanians are watching with enthusiasm the recalculation of pensions, which is in full process, and as a result of which they could receive more money in retirement. But in all the excitement, there is a certain dose of concern, given that the new pension law, which will come into force on September 1, 2024, comes with a lot of changes. Changes that are relatively difficult for ordinary people to understand, who still hope for a better life.
However, the authorities in the field insist on the fact that Romanians have nothing to worry about, because even if they will not receive extra money in retirement, their incomes will not decrease, regardless of the amount resulting from the recalculation.
A type of pension is disappearing
One of the main changes in the new law concerns the types of pensions that will be granted from September 1.
Simona Bucura Oprescu explained exclusively on Antena 3 CNN what are the types of pensions that will be granted after the implementation of the new pension law.
According to the Minister of Labour, the types of pension are:
- Age limit pension
- Disability pension
- Early retirement
- Survivor’s pension
It can be noted that according to the new pension law, there will be only four categories of pensions, and not five, as it is at the moment. In other words, a pension category disappears. More specifically, early retirement without penalties.
Therefore, early retirement without penalties is only possible until August 31, 2024.
The retirement age for women will increase
Another change that will take place will be the retirement age for women. This will have to rise in stages to 65 years by 2035, from the current 62 years and two months.
But even here the Government comes with measures to help women.
“Today the retirement age for women is 62 years and two months. As of July, he will be 62 years and three months old. By 2030 it must rise to 63 years, and by 2035 it must rise in stages to 65 years.
But we came up with two important benefits to rebalance, to balance, so that through the new pension law we do not punish women, even if it was a commitment that Romania took through the PNRR.
The two elements of the new law are that the retirement age is reduced by six months for each child born and raised up to the age of 16, for own children, and up to 14 years for adopted children, so that we have a reduction of retirement age and to recognize the effort of women.
And the second element, the fact that regarding the leave for raising the child, this is considered a contributory period”, Simona Bucura Oprescu explained to Antena 3 CNN.
The retirement age for women could be reduced
However, the authorities in the field want to help even more women who have given birth and raised children, and in which case the reduction of the standard retirement age could be much higher, according to a legislative project registered this week in Parliament.
Moreover, according to the project, the condition that mothers must fulfill in order to benefit from the reduction of the retirement age, the one related to achieving a full contribution period, would change, so that women who gave birth to at least one child to benefit from the discount even if they have only completed the minimum contribution period.
According to the new project, it is proposed to increase by six months the current intervals of reducing the standard retirement age that mothers benefit from depending on the number of children they have.
Therefore, women who have completed the minimum contribution period and who have given birth and raised children up to the age of 16 benefit from the reduction of the standard retirement age as follows: for one child – by one year, for 2 children – 1 year and 6 months , for 3 children – 2 years, for 4 children – 2 years and 6 months, for 5 children – 3 years, and for 6 or more children – 3 years and 6 months.
At the same time, in the project it is proposed to replace the condition of completing a full period of contributory contributions, as it is currently, with that of completing a minimum period of contribution.
In other words, even mothers who have not completed the full contribution period, but have ticked the minimum, will be able to benefit from the retirement age reduction.
According to Law 360/2023, the minimum internship of contributory contribution is of 15 yearswhile the full internship of contributory contribution is of 35 years, for both women and men. In the case of women, reaching the latter will be done by increasing the full contribution period, until 2035.
The replacement of the mentioned condition is proposed, according to the initiators of the measure, because “arithmetically speaking, for a mother with 3-4 or more children, it is difficult to achieve the fully contributory internship”.
In order to be implemented, the draft law must be adopted in Parliament, promulgated by presidential decree and published in the Official Gazette, writes avocatnet.ro.
