The banking and social security systems in Las Tunas are preparing to begin pension payments on August 20th, following the increase that will go into effect for pensions under four thousand pesos. This measure, announced last July during the ordinary session of the National Assembly of the People's Power, will benefit nearly 94 percent of current retirees or pensioners in this territory.

Imandra Peláez Martínez, head of the Social Security Department of the Provincial Labor Directorate, confirmed that specialists will be available in each of Las Tunas' municipalities to answer any questions. "This is not the first time we have implemented a pension increase; this is a partial one," she commented.

However, for the Balcón de Oriente, this bias is relative, as until now, pensions or retirement benefits for more than 73,000 out of 78,230 have not exceeded four thousand pesos. Thus, nine out of ten retirees or pensioners in Las Tunas will soon receive the increase.

The reported changes mean that age and disability pensions for retirees under the general Social Security System and Special Regimes, with amounts of up to two thousand 472 pesos, will increase by 1,528 pesos. Those who currently receive between two thousand 473 and three thousand 999 pesos per month will receive four thousand pesos. In the case of death pensions, where applicable, the increase will be applied to the amount received by the deceased and distributed among the beneficiaries, following the provisions of Social Security Law 105 of December 27, 2008.

BANKS READY

So, all eyes are turning to the region's banking institutions. Are they prepared? With the transition to the digital economy incomplete and subject to many obstacles, cash remains in high demand, especially among this population segment. Will banks in Las Tunas have enough?

Olga Elena del Río Boullón, head of the Personal Banking Department of the Provincial Directorate of the Popular Savings Bank (BPA), assured that "we have the necessary conditions and all the organizational measures to guarantee the quality of service starting August 20, when the measure becomes effective." She also noted that "We have provided training and preparation to bank branch staff to minimize or clarify any doubts, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security."

In its various forms, approximately 28,000 retirees receive their payments from BPA. However, the official assured that "all units that provide this service have the full amount of cash to pay, both to those who collect through electronic payroll and to enable ATMs." She noted that the aforementioned guarantee only covers the pension amount plus the increase corresponding to the month in question.

To provide better service, the BPA introduced changes to its schedule for regulating cash pension payments. Until last July, the criterion for organizing this payment was the pension amount; from now on, it will be based on the beneficiary's year of birth.

The goal, the head of the Personal Banking Department insisted, is to "improve organization; also, to avoid long lines and crowds at each branch." Therefore, she urged those interested to comply with this schedule.

"This does not mean that retirees who cannot attend when their group's payment is due will not be allowed to collect their pension on another day, since, in the case of magnetic card holders, they have the right to do so on any other date. This is not the case for those included on electronic payrolls, who must do so this month before September 6," she explained.

For his part, Rodolfo Lester León Jiménez, Communications and Marketing Specialist at the Commerce and Credit Bank (Bandec), reiterated that they have the necessary cash to make the payment. “In all branches, there are ATM booths designated exclusively for this service during morning hours, with full priority. This way, retirees can visit the branches, especially in the provincial capital and the municipalities of Colombia and Puerto Padre, which have ATMs.”

“Our workers are assuming this role with complete empathy, a sense of responsibility, and humanism. Although there is a schedule established and coordinated by Social Security colleagues, all retirees who come to our branches can cash their checks from the first day they are paid. It doesn't matter if they belong to the last group or if their amounts are among the highest. We are prepared to ensure that everyone who arrives receives full access to their checkbooks."

For the Social Security budget in Las Tunas, this measure represents an increase of more than 100 million pesos. At the time, the Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro Ale, acknowledged that although it does not cover all the demands, the measure expresses the political will of the revolutionary government to prioritize the lowest-income group of Cuban retirees, despite the high fiscal deficit.