With the minimum pension set at 450 euros, approximately 70,000 pensioners have experienced a loss of 76 euros each. The actual value of the 450-euro pension (in terms of purchasing power) has diminished to 374 euros, rather than nominally increasing to 527 euros, as stated by the Association of Pensioners of Montenegro “For a Life Worthy of a Man.”

The freezing of the minimum pension at €450 has been in effect since early 2024, meaning it will not receive the regular four-month adjustments that other pensions do. Currently, it is expected to remain unchanged until the start of next year, resulting in beneficiaries missing out on six potential adjustments.

“Regarding the upcoming May pension adjustment, which only affects a small group of Montenegrin pensioners, we once again highlight several ongoing issues associated with the decisions that negatively impact pensioners and citizens of Montenegro. The 3.1% adjustment for the first four months of this year has unfortunately only been applied to 42,000 pensioners. Out of the total 130,000 pensioners, only 42,000 will see an increase, while 70,000 who receive the minimum pension will not benefit, and the remaining 18,000 appear to have been overlooked in the calculations. Consequently, the minimum pension has lost 17% of its purchasing power from January 2024 to May 2025 due to this frozen adjustment, leaving it at 450 euros instead of 527 euros. Thus, the purchasing power of the 450-euro minimum pension has effectively dropped to 374 euros,” the Association emphasized.

They further highlight the irony that pensioners who previously received between 374 to 450 euros would now have a higher pension through regular adjustments if the minimum pension limit hadn’t been raised and subsequently frozen. This situation has deprived thousands of pensioners, as they would have received a higher pension had they not fallen into the minimum pension category after prior adjustments.

Additionally, they note that pension payments are consistently delayed by 20 days, prompting a request for compensation at the end of the year in line with inflation rates.

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