In the future, Estonians in countries lacking social security conventions can receive pensions too
Currently, only Estonians living in the EU or in other countries with which it has pension contracts have been receiving state pensions. In the future, Estonian citizens living in countries with which Estonia does not have social security agreements in force can begin receiving state pensions as well.
State pensions are currently available to Estonian citizens in 35 countries outside of Estonia; 160 countries will be joining that list in 2018. By that time, there may be as many as 360 pension claimants in these third countries, reported ETV’s news broadcast “Aktuaalne kaamera”.
According to Estonia’s Minister of Social Protection margus Tsahkna, citizens living in third countries could apply for old-age pensions, survivor’s pension, and special pensions.
“Anyone receiving a pension in a third country must report that he is alive and in good health, or at least alive, which means that we will not be paying out pensions for those who have already departed from this world,” Tsahkna explained. “We are working on making this notification system as simple as possible.”