The plight of NIS pensioners specifically in relation to the failure of government to increase minimum payouts was addressed by former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan in a letter to Stabroek News dated May 23.
In his missive, the former minister related being approached by an NIS pensioner for an explanation as to why pensions have not seen an increase above the minimum since 2020. He confessed to not being able to give a satisfactory answer but proceeded to explain the situation concerning NIS minimum payments.
He indicated the yearly increases in NIS Old Age Pensions since 2015 with the Coalition Government increasing the minimum pension (equivalent to 50% of the minimum wage) every year between 2015 and 2020, with the minimum pension increasing from $21,352 in 2015 to $35,000 in 2020.
