In Armenia, a pension application may be rejected in certain circumstances, while pension payments may also be suspended or subject to deductions, according to information cited by Iravaban.net from the relevant authorities.
The information is based on Armenia’s Law on State Pensions.
When Can an Employment Pension Application Be Rejected?
An application may be rejected if:
the applicant is not entitled to a pension;
according to the State Population Register, the applicant does not have a registered place of residence in Armenia;
the applicant fails to submit the documents required for granting a pension within the established procedure and deadlines.
If an application is rejected, the applicant should be notified within 15 working days after submitting the application.
When Can Pension Payments Be Suspended?
The right to receive an employment pension may be terminated or payments suspended in several circumstances, including when the pensioner:
renounces Armenian citizenship;
permanently moves to another country;
receives a pension from another state;
is found to have submitted forged documents in the pension application;
is a foreign citizen whose legal right to reside in Armenia expires;
receives the pension through a bank but fails to complete the required periodic confirmation of residence in Armenia;
receives the pension through an authorized representative whose 12-month authorization period has expired.
Pension payments also cease following the pensioner’s death or when the person is legally declared deceased or missing.
When Can Money Be Deducted From a Pension?
Deductions may be made if a pensioner submits documents containing incorrect information or if, because of an error, the pensioner receives more money than the amount to which they were entitled.
Can Armenia’s Compulsory Enforcement Service Deduct Money From a Pension?
Yes. Armenia’s Compulsory Enforcement Service may make deductions of up to 30% of the pension until the enforceable debt has been fully repaid.
However, after deductions, the amount payable to the pensioner must not fall below the level of the social benefit established by the Armenian government.
Deductions cannot be made from an individual’s funded pension assets while they are still being accumulated. Such assets remain protected until the person becomes entitled to receive a funded pension under the procedure established by law.
The rules described above concern different legal situations, and the exact consequences in an individual case depend on the applicable pension status and circumstances.
