Most retired people in Croatia receive the standard pension, which for July was 2,228 kuna (€300). 15,546 retired people receive a pension of less than 1,000 kuna. Adding those who receive pensions in between the two amounts we arrive at the number of 586,613 persons with an income lower than 2,228 kuna, or 55.31 percent of retired people. Peace in retirement clearly still needs to be fought for.

There is a whole series of problems with the Croatian pensions system. Since the beginning of 2019 the procedure for claiming an old-age pension has become more demanding, and at the same time early retirement pensions are permanently reduced. It is a sign of the problems with the Croatian pensions system, which has been trying to find “the right formula“ for the last thirty years.

Under the statutory pension scheme, all those born after 1963 are obliged to work until 65 years old except if they have already completed 41 years of work. All those born after 1966 need to work until 67 unless they have completed the 41 years.

Given today’s problems – difficulties with finding and retaining employment, increasingly precarious work, and unusual job contracts, especially for young people – it will be more and more difficult for workers to complete 41 years of qualifying work before the age of 67. This achievement now looks like a dream for most people.

Those who choose or need to claim an early old-age pension will be punished by the government. The amount of the early old-age pension is permanently reduced by 0.3 per cent for each month before retirement age, i.e. by 3.6 per cent per year, up to 18 per cent for five years prior to retirement. The reduction is permanent and does not depend on the length of the completed qualifying period.

Read more @Balcani caucaso