Photo: A. Dimitrijevic
During his visit to the Rasin District, the President of Serbia convinced a disability pension beneficiary that the situation in the country is better than ever. During this time, the amount of the disability pension is often not enough to cover basic living expenses
"I am increasing the pension by 11 percent!" And when did someone increase your pension by 11 percent in your life? When? Tell me what year? '75, '85? Now I'm asking in 95, 2005, 2015, when someone increased your pension by 11 percent," Vučić interrupted him, addressing him as "you".
That's how the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, addressed one Miloj Sarić, a pensioner with a disability, who lost his right hand at work, while he tried to present to him what an 11 percent pension increase looks like in practice.
That is, when someone receives assistance of just over 8.000 dinars per month for their disability.
Miloš Grabunžija from the Union of Pensioners Nezavisnost told "Vreme" that the amount of disability pensions in Serbia often cannot cover even basic expenses, so many people with disabilities are forced to continue working.
"Persons who receive a disability pension are those who, by force of circumstances, receive that money for some health reasons, that is, because of some illnesses or injuries at work. They have a rather large amount deducted from their regular income. Some of them often go to work for private companies, so the sick also go to work", says Grabundžija.
He adds that women are a particularly vulnerable category, who have worked in very unfavorable conditions in some factories and production facilities since the beginning.
Jovanka Pavlović from the Association of War and Military Invalids and Families of Fallen Soldiers from the city of Zrenjanin has a somewhat different view. Pavlović tells "Vreme" that the incomes of people with disabilities are sufficient for a normal life.
"You can live on a disability pension in Serbia. Our income is related to average wages and includes the amount of disability benefits. So the income is sufficient, unemployment benefits are also received through the Bureau. Those who are employed by the Veterans' Disability Protection also receive a difference, if their disability allowance is less than the average salary".
How much is the disability pension?
According to the PIO fund, the average disability pension amounts to 42.150 dinars.
Pensioners from the group of employees have the highest disability pensions, who on average receive about 43.400 dinars per month, followed by pensioners from the group of self-employed workers, who receive about 40.700.
Pensioners in the category of farmers have the lowest incomes of all, who receive on average just under 21.000 dinars per month.
Otherwise, the amount of the disability pension is determined in the same way as the old-age pension, with the fact that, during the calculation, it is increased by the added length of service, which depends on the completed years of life and the gender of the insured.
If the disability is caused by an injury at work or an occupational disease, the pension is calculated according to the pensionable service of 40 years, which means that the insured person will have a pension as if he had worked for 40 years.
If the cause of the disability is an injury at work or an occupational disease, then the length of service is not a requirement for a disability pension.
If the disability is the result of an illness or injury outside of work, at least five years of work experience or insurance experience is required. Exceptions are those citizens who lost their work incapacity earlier.
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