Around 2 out of 10 fast track pensions are awarded by e-EFKA with discrepancies and pensioners are rushing to lodge objections in order to receive the correct amount of their pension.
However, according to sources at e-EFKA, if the discrepancy in the amount of the pension is large then they are examined as a priority within 4 months, while if the discrepancy is small then it may take longer.
In fact, it is already observed that pensioners who had discrepancies in their pensions have filed claims as it turned out that the EFKA had not calculated a long insurance period. It should be noted here that in all these cases the pension decision explicitly states that there is a reservation and that a new pension decision will be issued when the procedures for recapitulating the years are completed.
However, 8 out of 10 pensions are issued in full, without the need for a subsequent re-examination or supplementation with the additional pensionable service.
Pension applications submitted from 1 April 2022 onwards are processed by the fast track method and paid by EFKA within three months. However, in case the award is not completed within a quarter then it is automatically paid in the month following the completion of the quarter, i.e. in 4 months.
More specifically, if the three-month deadline is not met, then the competent authorities will have to rely on two facts to issue the decision: On the one hand, the data contained in the «ATLAS» electronic system on the applicant's insurance history, and on the other hand, the additional data provided by the applicant himself on the time of his insurance. In other words, the check will be carried out on the basis of these data alone and the pension will be issued in record time.
The fast track pension arrangements will apply to new pensioners, i.e. those who apply for a pension that falls due after 31/3.
In essence, the process of «trust drafting» will be repeated so that the drafting can be done quickly based on the data in the digitized history. So the calculation will be done and the checks will follow in a second year. The checks will not be random but will be for all insured persons.
If the pension amount is subsequently higher than the amount given by the first fast track calculation, the additional amount will be paid retroactively to the insured person.
If a lower pension amount is subsequently obtained, it will also be refunded retroactively to EFKA.
The acts of awarding pensions issued under accelerated procedures shall be verified within three years of their issue and in any case up to five years after their issue. If it is found that the insurance history taken into account for their issue was incorrect, the acts shall be reformed or revoked as appropriate. The results of the audit may not lead to imputations against the pensioner extending beyond three years.
If the audit reveals that the insurance period taken into account for the issuance of the pension is longer than the actual period by up to two (2) years, the insured person is allowed to cover the corresponding insurance contributions within one year, either by payment or by deduction from the pension paid, or by a combination of the two methods.
Insurance contributions are covered either at their current value or in a similar way to the recognition of notional time. If this right is exercised, the pension award remains valid and there is no possibility of seeking undue pension payments.
Alexandra Kleidara
