Pensioner Card (Photo credit: tbohlsen10) |
The Greek government on Thursday announced a new initiative that is aimed at combating instances of fake pensioners of families of deceased bilking Greece's cash-strapped pension funds out money, although private sector notaries public instead of municipalities' registry offices have been tapped.
According to the plan, dubbed "Ariadne" after the mythical figure, marriage and burial licenses, as well as whatever changes in family statuses (divorce, births etc.) in relation to pension funds, will be declared at notaries. The latter, in turn, will supposedly forward the declarations to pension funds via an electronic system.
In presenting the plan, Labour Minister Yannis Vroutsis said costs for issuing a burial license will be paid by the funds (as part of reimbursed funeral costs), whereas other licenses and declarations will be paid by the private citizen -- with initial reports putting the figure at an eyebrow-raising 40 to 50 euros. The initiative remains to be included in a relevant draft law, which has not been drafted as yet. (AMNA)