Jewish Holocaust survivors living in Eastern Europe who receive pensions from the Claims Conference will receive significant increases in their monthly pensions.
The increase results from an agreement with the German government.
The negotiations for increased pensions will result in an additional, estimated 60 million euros being paid over the next 10 years to approximately 13,000 Holocaust survivors in 22 countries.
Furthermore, payments from the Central and Eastern European Fund (CEEF) will be the same to eligible Holocaust survivors living in countries of the European Union and non-EU countries, a change from current German government regulations.
This will result in a 35% increase in monthly payments for CEEF recipients living in non-EU countries, and an 11% increase for CEEF recipients living in EU countries.
Beginning in January, 2010, all recipients for CEEF payments will receive 240 euros per month.
Currently, under German government regulations, approximately 7,580 survivors living in EU countries receive 216 euros per month, but 5,340 survivors living in non-EU countries receive 178 euros.
The Claims Conference has been intensively pressing the German government for a number of years to increase CEEF payments and to equalize all CEEF payments, as the cost of living in the region has risen substantially.
“We are very pleased that these survivors, double victims of both Nazism and Communism, will receive these increased payments,” said Amb. Stuart Eizenstat, former US Deputy Treasury Secretary, who for the first time participated in negotiations as special negotiator for the Claims conference.
“With living costs rising across Eastern Europe and elderly survivors often lacking access to basic social services, the Claims Conference has long maintained that monthly pensions must be increased to survivors in this region.
“These increased payments will help ease these last years of their lives. The conference will continue to advocate on their behalf for as long as necessary.”
Information: www.claimscon.org
