Millions of Citizens Entangled in Pension ID Befuddlement 

Just what the pension system needs. More complications. 

An estimated 7 million people may still have more than one pension identification number, a mistake that could lead to reduced payouts in their retirement, according to sources in the Social Insurance Agency. 

If correct procedures are taken and payment records under the different numbers integrated, there should be no problem: Full pension benefits will be paid. 

But there is no guarantee that will happen for everyone. 

The problem starts when a person switches from one pension program to another. It is up to that individual to do the necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth change and to prevent "double registration" into the pension system. 
But even Cabinet members have failed to do so when they changed pension programs. 

If individuals are registered twice in the system, they could face such problems as reduced payouts or even ineligibility. 

In January 1997, all citizens enrolled in the public pension system were given a 10-digit basic number. The numbers are used as a universal ID code to keep track of the records for all the public pension programs-national, employees' and mutual aid. 

But if, for example, individuals land new jobs and switch from the national to employees' pension program, they might end up with two ID numbers if they fail to fill out the forms to leave the national pension plan. 

If the switch took place before January 1997, they might have been given two different numbers-one for the national program and the other for the employees' pension plan. 

Some obtained a new number after 1997 when they registered with the employees' pension plan, unaware that they already had a number under the national pension program. 

The multiple registration problem is causing confusion at social insurance offices. It will likely take years to sort out the mess. 

The Social Insurance Agency estimates that 20 million people were given more than one number in and after January 1997. 

Of them, the numbers for 1.14 million people were integrated by fiscal 2002 on the basis of name, birth date and other data. 

The agency also sent inquiries to 13.3 million others born on April 1, 1953, or earlier. About 8.9 million people responded, and of them 6.3 million-or 70 percent-had more than one ID number. 

Four million others have not responded and 400,000 could not be reached, sources said. 

The agency also has yet to contact 5.5 million people born on April 2, 1953, or later, bringing to 9.9 million the total number of those yet to be covered by the investigation. 

The sources, using 70 percent as a yardstick, estimate that 7 million may still have multiple numbers. The agency plans to send all inquiries by the end of fiscal 2006.