The head of e-EFKA, Alexandros Varveris, set the goal of processing main and supplementary pension applications within one month of submission, noting that the average processing time has already been reduced to approximately 40 days.
As he stated, “the agency’s goal is to ensure there is no gap between employment and retirement, ” noting that the supplemental pension will follow immediately after the main pension. He emphasized, however, that this statement does not constitute an official announcement, but rather a strategic goal of the agency.
According to the data presented by Alexandros Varveris, there are approximately 13,700–13,800 pending main pensions, while supplementary pensions number 30,000. He clarified that applications for which 90 days have elapsed since submission are considered pending.
He emphasized that the situation has improved significantly compared to the past, when—as he put it—“the pension approval process could take one to two years or even longer.” Today, as he noted, “the results speak for themselves.”
Regarding specific categories, he mentioned that consecutive and parallel pensions have largely been resolved and are now even issued automatically, while international pensions remain a challenge, although “significant progress has been made.”
At the same time, he noted increased pressure on the system due to a rise in retirement applications. As he said, approximately 57,000 applications were filed in the first quarter of the year, compared to fewer than 50,000 during the same period last year. The increase is attributed, among other things, to the retirement of the 1960s generation and the favorable conditions for working retirees.
Regarding major debtors, he explained that the publication of names for debts exceeding 150,000 euros is a standard procedure and “serves as pressure on strategic defaulters” to settle their debts. As he noted, many rush to settle their debts before the names are made public.
Referring to refunds, he clarified that refunds have already been issued to certain categories of insured individuals, such as engineers, lawyers, and doctors, due to exceeding contribution limits, while he announced the launch of a platform for refunds to working retirees.
Finally, describing the organization’s overall picture, he noted that “revenues have increased due to a decline in unemployment, ” yet the EFKA continues to rely heavily on the state budget for pension payments. As he said, “without state support, it would not be possible to pay them,” adding, however, that “the balance is positive.”
Source: ertnews.gr