Major Changes Await Belarusian Pensioners

The main features.

Belarusians expect pension changes in the coming months. Some — since the beginning of 2025. Zerkalo tells about the most important things.

New rules since October

From October 1 this year, the list of those who must make mandatory insurance contributions to the Social Insurance Fund will also be expanded. They will be introduced for artisans, owners of agricultural estates, as well as the self-employed.

As the Ministry of Labor specified earlier, these Belarusians will contribute to the Social Security Fund in the same way as individual entrepreneurs:

payments deadline — until March 1 of the following year,

payments should be made only for the months in which a person works.

The amount of contributions is 29% of the self-established income, but not lower than the minimum wage. Recall that the minimum salary is now 626 Belarusian rubles. That is, the monthly fee will be 181.54 rubles per month. For the year — 2,178.48 rubles.

Change in prepayments

Since August 31, Belarus has expanded the list of reasons why people can receive their pensions early through the post offices.

According to the Ministry of Labor, the authorities will make changes to the procedure for paying pensions, benefits and other social benefits through postal service facilities.

"The list of cases for early receipt within the payment period [in other words, one month in advance - Ed.] has been supplemented in the postal service facility," the Ministry of Labor notes. "Now, in addition to the temporary departure of the recipient outside Belarus, being treated in a health care organization that provides medical care in hospital, the death of a family member, an emergency situation, such cases include being in a sanatorium and resort organization, referral for hospitalization or examination."

Pensions are usually paid through the post offices from the 5th to the 26th day of each calendar month. But you can contact the head of the post office where you receive this money and ask them to issue it earlier than usual. But you will need to confirm that there is an extenuating circumstance in order to receive the money in advance.

Pensions will be calculated in a new way

From 2025, changes will be introduced in the calculation and purpose of pensions. From next year, the period for which wages are taken to calculate these payments will be increased by one year — up to 31 years of continuous work experience. This is reported by social services.

To calculate the pension, they now take the salary for the last 30 years of work in a row (or less if they have worked less than this period). From January 1, 2025, this figure will increase by one year — up to 31 years.

Changes in insurance record

From 2025, the minimum insurance period will be increased in Belarus. It is necessary to receive an employment pension. This length of service includes only the time when you worked and the employer paid insurance premiums for you to the Social Security Fund. Now the minimum insurance period is 19 years 6 months. From January 1, 2025, it will grow by six months — up to 20 years, social services specified earlier.

Recall that in 2013 this figure increased from five to ten years. Belarusians who have not worked out the insurance period under the new rules fall into the pension trap, they cannot claim an employment pension, they can only be assigned a social pension: men — from 65 years old, women — from 60 years old. Now the social pension is 209.37 rubles, and from August 1 it will be increased to 216.5 rubles.

Earlier, from January 1, 2020, military service began to be included in the insurance record. This innovation was not supported during the discussion at the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Finance. At the same time, the authorities did not accept changes in university studies and maternity leave, the inclusion of which in the insurance period was discussed along with service in the army.

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