OREANDA-NEWS. February 02, 2009. From time to time, the mass media issue information about possible pension delay. There are no grounds for it, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Ukraine Liudmyla Denisova stressed, commenting upon such “forecasts”. On January 23, the financing of pensions was completed for January and even because of holidays the schedule was not upset.

“In 2009 pensions to be paid without delay and within determined terms. All pension programs will be provided with necessary means, financed from the State Budget,” the Minister said.

According to her, in January the Pension Fund of Ukraine raised a scheduled essentially lower loan from the State Budget at the sum of – not 5.5bn hryvnias but 3.9bn hryvnias, acquittance of which has been already started on January 23. It means sufficient revenues to the Pension Fund, despite pessimistic forecasts by the end of the last year of some politicians and experts. “On the outcomes of January we surpass the plan of insurance deposit revenues to the Pension Fund which was previously determined for January,” Liudmyla Denisova said.

The Minister also informed that in 2009 the reached level of pensions would be retained, in particular, the payments fixed in 2008 would not be reduced, but pensions would be changed, according to the inflation rate. Additionally, pensions may be even increased in 2009. The Ministry of Labour experts are working at it now.

Liudmyla Denisova assures that despite a rumour, pensions will be paid to labouring pensioners in full and the Government does not intend to change the retirement age limits.