Armenia’s Unified Social Service has announced a new procedure aimed at helping pensioners and benefit recipients who are unable to independently complete certain actions related to pension payments and access to basic banking services.
Under the new arrangement, a pensioner or benefit recipient who is unable to carry out the necessary procedures independently, including through a power of attorney, may receive assistance through a representative of the Unified Social Service.
With the representative’s assistance, the beneficiary may:
obtain the status and rights of a bank customer;
conclude a bank account agreement on the beneficiary’s behalf;
access essential banking services.
To receive such assistance, the citizen may submit a request to the Unified Social Service in writing, by telephone or through another person, specifying the particular service required.
The procedure also applies to certain pension-related applications that, under existing legislation, must normally be submitted personally by the pensioner.
If the pensioner is unable to fulfill the personal-submission requirement independently, an authorized employee of the relevant territorial center of the Unified Social Service will visit the pensioner at their home or current place of residence and facilitate the submission of the required application in accordance with the established procedure.
The new mechanism is intended to ensure that people who cannot independently complete banking or administrative procedures are still able to access their pension, benefits and related services.
