Retirees hit with JD7.5m in fines after resuming work

AMMAN — The Social Security Corporation (SSC) on Wednesday suspended the retirement benefits of 162 early retirees for resuming work without informing the corporation, fining them some JD7.5 million in accrued subscriptions, fines and interest.

The decision included four pensioners receiving salaries above JD5,000, 68 salaries ranging from JD1,000 to JD5,000 and 90 salaries less than JD1,000 a month, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

SSC spokesperson Musa Subeihi, in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said that a total of JD3.671 million was paid unjustly to the 162 early retirees, noting that fines estimated at JD4 million will also be imposed against the institutions that employed the retirees. 

Under the law, early retirees can still claim part of their pensions if they resume work, under the condition that they stopped working for 24 months before taking up a new position.

Also, in order to continue to receive their pension, they must not return to the same place of work where they were employed during the 36 months before their early retirement, and they must subscribe to the SSC as soon as they begin the new job.

The SSC encourages early pensioners to benefit from this law to improve their lives by combining part of their pensions with their salaries, according to Petra.

The SSC also called on all institutions to inform the corporation of any early retirees among their colleagues to avoid any fines.