Old-age benefits for January and February for 3,32 thousand farmers will be paid by the end of this week, and will cost two million euros.
This was officially told to "Vijesta" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (MAŠV), which it manages Vladimir Jokovic. As they stated, the department pays these fees after the adoption of the Agricultural Budget, and this year's fees have been increased to 315 euros. In the agricultural budget for 2024, EUR 12,84 million is planned for these payments. The head of an agricultural household is entitled to old-age allowance if he is older than 65 years (for men) or 60 years (for women), lives in the countryside, engages in agriculture and does not receive income on any other basis.
This allowance is defined by the Law on Agriculture, and since 2015 it has been tied to the level of 50 percent of the minimum pension. In 2021, this limit was increased to 70 percent of the minimum pension, at the suggestion of the representatives of Democratic Montenegro.
The MAŠV stated that old-age benefits for January and February, depending on the adoption of the Agricultural Budget, are paid in the second half of March, and that they are generally paid at the beginning of the previous month.
"According to legal norms, the amount of old-age benefit is 70 percent of the minimum pension, so as of January 1, 2024, this amount has been corrected from the previous 207,45 euros to 315 euros," stated the MAFSV.
Director of the Directorate for Agriculture Miroslav Cimbaljević yesterday, during the presentation of the Agricultural budget, clarified that old-age benefits are related to that regulation, so they will be paid after its adoption. He clarified that Agrobdujet will become operational after publication in the Official Gazette, which they expect today.
"The agricultural budget will be published in the Official Gazette today or tomorrow, so it will be operational for all outstanding claims, including old age benefits for two months, for January and February. 3.3 thousand users will be paid very soon", said Cimbaljević.
In 2020, this fee amounted to 64,41 euros, in 2021 it was 72,89 euros, in 2022 it was 177 euros, in 2023 it was 207 euros, and now it is 315 euros, due to the increase of the minimum pension.
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