SOCIETY: Cyprus ends discrimination on widower’s pension

Men who have survived their life partners are now eligible to receive a widower’s pension equal to that of widows after the House passed amended legislation to end criteria discrimination on Friday.

The law provides for the payment of a widower's pension under the same criteria and without discrimination to men and women who have lost their partner. The bill is retrospective and is active from 1 January 2018 onwards.

The House passed similar legislation last July, which then included widowers who had lost their wives before 1 January 2018.

President Nicos Anastasiades sent the law back to the House who insisted on passing it.

The law went before the constitutional court which found the legislation unconstitutional as its retrospective aspect called for an increase in the state budget larger than what was allocated because it increased the payout and number of beneficiaries.

The purpose of the bill passed is to amend the Social Insurance Law so that a pension is paid out on a non-discriminatory basis and on equal terms to eligible men and women.

A provision in the law which provided that if a widow or widower should re-marry would cease to be entitled to a widow's or widower’s pension was changed.

Widows and widowers alike are now entitled to a lump sum equal to the annual amount of the pension received at the time of the new marriage, except for any increase received for dependents.

The bill also envisages a gradual increase in contributions to the Social Insurance Fund totaling 1% of insurable earnings, which would be applicable in future years.

As mentioned in the bill, the need for increased contributions will be reevaluated after an actuarial study to ensure the viability of the Social Insurance Fund.