The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is planning several improvements so as to streamline the distribution of pensions for government retirees.

The NSSF for Civil Servants met with officials from 25 municipalities and provinces yesterday and discussed possible plans to address the difficulties faced by seniors when receiving their monthly pensions. NSSF executive director Mut Khiev said in a release that the fund had to continually assess itself in order to improve the delivery of services.

At the meeting, officials agreed that employing the help of banks would be a positive step.

Currently, the NSSF informs retirees through television and radio that their pensions are available for pick-up at local offices. They also bring pensions to the homes of seniors who are disabled or seriously ill.

“Sometimes I have to wait for the office to open”, said a 63-year-old retired civil servant who refused to be named. “The government should cooperate with the many banks that operate in our areas because [then] we wouldn’t have to wait.”

Other planned improvements include the increase of home visits for those unable to collect their pensions and the creation of new benefits for the dependents of deceased civil servants.

The NSSF could not confirm when the improvements will be enacted. According to Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, factory workers and civil servants are the only groups currently receiving pensions.

In August, the pay for retired government officials rose from about $50 to $75 per month.

“But this is just the first step,” Siphan said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KHOUTH SOPHAK CHAKRYA