EFKA: The Paybacks Mystery – Who Gets Paid and Who Waits

“I found an additional 1,000 euros in my account. Should I be happy or is there an error and I will be asked to return it?” The reader of imerisia.gr rightly wonders because he cannot know whether it is retrospective from recalculation of pensions, retrospective from an error or incomplete calculation of his pension or retrospective for other reasons. The same applies to unexpected deductions, which are usually recorded in the “other debts” information box, as the pensioner once again desperately searches for the reasons for cutting off his pension.

The process of issuing quick pensions often leaves, especially in parallel insurance, years, months or even days unaccounted for which later come as an increase in the pension.

It also results retroactively from the recalculation of pensions a) with the improved rates of the Frutsis Law for those with more than 30 years of insurance b) with increased insurance premiums as in the case of Olympic pensioners and other pensioners of special funds (DEKO, banks) who paid the main insurance contributions more than 20%, but the additional contribution was not taken into account in the initial recalculation made in 2019 c) in the earnings included in the pension calculation on the basis of which the initial recalculation was made. There are salaries or contributions that were not taken into account, as a result of which pensioners are entitled to retroactively.

“Untouchable”

The conclusion is that there has been a “chaos” that even the EFKA cannot resolve as amounts are paid into accounts literally at the last minute and then declared. Additionally, in most cases, the increase or retroactive effect is not listed separately on the invoice that is issued electronically the following month. Calling 1555 is a solution since many have received answers from the EFKA Call Center while others are still waiting…on their mobile phones.

According to the agency’s management, the services, after examining the samples, determine the categories of pensions in which errors were made or recalculations are pending, and work intensively to complete the project. However, due to the uncertainty of processing completion, they avoid announcing payments in advance.

However, at the end of July, with the August pensions, 550 former employees of the OGA, 750 pensioners of the ETFA, 500 pensioners of the National Bank and 750 pensioners of the National Insurance Company are expected to receive retrospective recalculation.

The corrections are usually progressive, and pensioners receive a retrospective increase from October 2019. The amounts in many cases exceed €5,000.

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The correct recalculation process is ongoing, however, as EFKA reported, it has been completed for the largest number of pensioners.

It is estimated that there are more than 15,000 pensions in the recalculation queue that have either not been recalculated, or have been recalculated but with incorrect amounts and are being corrected.

In the coming period, another 4,500 National Bank retirees are expected to receive retroactive benefits. In this case, the fault lies with the bank, which provided inaccurate salary data to EFKA.

Taxes before credit

The “thorn” remains the tax on 20% of the money retroactively before it is deposited in the pensioner’s account.

“For example, if a pensioner is retroactively entitled to 10,000 euros, he will find 8,000 euros in his account – points out the head of the Unified Network of Pensioners Nikos Hatzopoulos – which is why we proposed that the entire amount paid be transferred and that taxes be levied after a supplementary declaration every year from 2019 when the retroactive effect is “triggered” Therefore, it is clear that the tax will be lower or zero in cases of reduced pensions We also sent a letter to the EFKA due to the lack of information For example, in the statement of the following month, the former employees of the OEK found the update Retroactively related, former employees of Olympiaki are still waiting for an update. One important pending issue is the recalculation of severe and unhealthy disability pensions in order to account for the additional 3.6% contribution. This means 80 thousand people are waiting in line.

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The arrears have already been paid

In May, retroactive payments were made to recalculate the correct amount for agricultural sector pensioners and in June 2024 for Ionian sector pensioners.

In June, retroactive payments of correct recalculations were made to 7,002 TAP-OTE pensioners, and payment of retroactive recalculations is still pending for part of this category, which will be examined for each pension file.

During the previous period, retrospective payments from correct recalculations were made to most Olympic Aviation retirees, while retrospective payments are still pending for some who are experiencing recalculation difficulties.

In April, retroactive payments were made and correctly recalculated to ISAP pensioners.

Correct recalculation amounts were paid retroactively in April and May 2024, to retired civil servants who left service with joint provisions (IKA instead of the state) after having paid main pension contributions above 20%.

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