Number of pensioners increases by 130,000

The number of pensioners has exceeded 2.5 million people as of January 1, 2014.

The statement was made by Larysa Yashkova, a deputy head of the main department for pensions and social insurance at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, BelTA news agency reports.

As many as 76,800 women and 51,100 men became pensioners last year. One of eight new pensioners retired on preferential terms. Almost 16,100 people retired early (before reaching the pension age, 55 years for women and 60 years for men). The number of men and women among those granted early retirement is equal.

Early retirement privileges are granted to people having special working conditions, workers of textile industry, tractor drivers and others as well as to people working in the pedagogical and medical sectors, artists and employees of the aviation sector. Members of the Chernobyl disaster recovery teams, mothers of many children, parents of disabled children, people disabled from childhood and others have the right to early retirement.

In 2013, the state continued its work on maintaining the income level of pensioners and providing stability of the pension system. Pensions were increased two times (in July and November); minimum work and social pensions and benefits were adjusted to the living wage every quarter. As a result, age pensions rose by an average of 16.7% in 2013 reaching 2,290,400 rubles in December. The average age pension made up 40.7% of the average wage in 2013.

We remind that work pensions were revised on February 1 in accordance with the average wage in the country. Minimum and social pensions, bonuses and supplements were also revised due to the increase in the living wage. Pensions will grow by an average of 5.2% in February.