El Salvador: $50 per Month Changes the Lives of Older Salvadorians (June 24, 2012)

(Article in Spanish)

16,000 older adults from 53 municipalities have benefitted from El Salvador’s Basic Universal Pension (Pensión Básica Universal).  The pension’s goal is to reduce poverty among seniors in the 100 municipalities with the highest poverty incidence.  Before the Basic Universal Pension began, 9 out of every 10 older adults who lived in rural areas did not receive a formal pension.  The program will end in 2014 with the conclusion of the presidency of Mauricio Funes.  The next government must consider continuing the project. 

Mexico: Estimated 7.1 Million Seniors in Mexico for 2025 (June 16, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Mexico’s senior population will skyrocket between now and 2050.  Currently, 5.1 million older adults reside in Mexico.  In 2025, some 7.1 million persons will be seniors, and in 2050, 18.4 million individuals will be older adults in Mexico.  Although these seniors will have worked for years and deserve a decent retirement, the rapid growth of older people in Mexico may leave them with empty pockets.  To prevent widespread poverty among Mexicans who have worked through many years, the program “70 and older” (70 y más) has been re-introduced by the Social Development Secretary (Desarrollo Social), Heriberto Félix Guerra.  Thanks to extending the program this year, 3.5 million seniors from rural, urban, and suburban areas will benefit.

Colombia: Only 5% of Seniors in Cali Receive the Government’s Attention: Legal Status (June 15, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Only 17,500 out of the 300,000 older adults living in Cali, Colombia, receive support from the State assistance programs. The Older Adult programs and National Governmental Social Protection programs (programas al Adulto Mayor y de Protección Social del Gobierno Nacional) cover only 5% of the older population. Some 65,000 seniors have solicited subsidies, but the Social Protection Program (Programa de Protección Social) has helped only 12,000 of them.  Another 53.000 are waiting for assistance from this program.

Costa Rica: Government Doubles Funds to Assist Seniors (June 14, 2012)

(Article in Spanish)

Laura Chinchilla, the President of Costa Rica, will double the funds in the Older Adult Person Council (Consejo de la Persona Adulta Mayor).  The government currently provides ¢2.500 million to the Older Adult Person Council and will increase this sum to ¢5.000 million in 2013.  This raise will finance care centers for seniors and will subsidize families and assistants that help older adults.

Nicaragua: Elders Stop Protests and Negotiate Pensions with Nicaraguan Government (April 19, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Recently, older persons suspended their protests in front of the National Assembly in Managua, Nicaragua, to start negotiations with the government for reduced pensions. In fact, by banding together, they managed to get confirmation that a Social Security technical committee will be created to draft a bill that will ensure their pensions. According to Porfirio García, President of the National Unity of Older Persons, 25,000 Nicaraguan retirees failed to reach the minimum number of 750 weeks of pension contributions established by the law, but they are over 60 years old and have contributed at least 250 weeks, so they are entitled to reduced pensions of 136 dollars a month. 

Canada: Canada Abolishes Mandatory Retirement (April 11, 2012)
(Article in French)
It is now forbidden for Canadian employers to force employees to retire at a certain age. Indeed, this measure is intended to address the labor shortage caused by retiring  baby boomers and to respect human rights.  David Langtry, President of the Commission on Human Rights, said, "Discrimination based on age is a pure and simple form of discrimination" that must end. Older people can continue to work as long as they wish, increasing their income and leveraging their know-how.

Argentina: Pérez Raises Veterans’ Pensions 40% (April 3, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Francisco Pérez, Governor of the Mendoza Province, recently announced that he signed a decree to increase the pension provided by the province for veterans of the Falklands War, from 1,500 to 2,100 pesos starting May 1. This news brings hope to improving the situation surrounding the recuperation of the Falklands, as the 30th anniversary of the war has just passed. Governor Pérez stresses that only through peace and diplomatic negotiations will the country effectively and sustainably aid the recovery of the islands.

Canada: Blue-Collar Workers Bear Aging Burden (April 2, 2012)
Canada is shifting eligibility age for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, fully funded by current taxpayers and targeting those who are unable to afford their own retirements, from 65 to 67. The writer points out that this is not increasing the retirement age but affects those who cannot afford to retire. He suggests that to deal with funding, the government instead lower the income eligibility level of the plan from the current $70,000.

Canada: Retirement VS Smaller Property: Whether Moving is the Right Decision (February 28, 2012)
(Article in French)
When it’s time to retire, older people are often tempted to move to a smaller house to cope with the reduction of their income. When asked what were the major factors in their decision to move after retirement, the baby boomers cited climate (57 percent), financial position (54 percent), to be nearer to family and friends (45 percent) and improved access to health care and support services (35 percent). However, other issues presented in this article should be addressed before taking this big step.

Canada: Reform is Inevitable, Said Minister Finley (February 22, 2012)
(Article in French)
In Canada, there are now four workers for every retiree, but by 2030 the ratio will come down two workers for every retiree because the number of elderly is to double by then. Canada's Minister of Human Resources, Diane Finley, believes that reform should limit the increase in program costs. In 2010, Social Security spending for older people cost 36 billion to the Canadian government and should reach 108 billion in twenty years.

Canada: Retirement: Quebecers Are Unprepared (February 6, 2012)
(Article in French)
The Leger Marketing-QMI Agency reveals a disturbing fact: the savings of more than a third of Quebecers aged 55 to 64 years do not exceed $100,000. This meager sum, set aside to cope with the drop in income when they retire, will not allow them to stop working at age 65. However, only 41 percent of respondents state that they see a need to reform the system, for example by increasing the retirement age to 67.

Canada: Why Raising OAS to 67 Doesn’t Make Sense (February 1, 2012)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has fueled speculation that he plans to increase the eligibility of Old Age Security from 65 to 67 years. Conservatives are opposed to raising taxes. If Old Age Security is to be reformed, it can be done in alternative ways.

Nicaragua: Hundreds of Elderly Protest for Pensions with Dances and Music (January 18, 2012)
(Article in Spanish)
Hundreds of elderly people in Nicaragua protested outside the parliament, asking that pensions be paid for seniors from age 60. The petition is to create a new law that with 250 weeks of contribution would grant a person the right to a pension. One representative said that they understand the reasons for the demands, but unfortunately the government does not have sufficient resources to meet their needs. The unusual character of the protest was that protestors danced with popular music, cumbia and merengue songs.

Business owners believe the federal government should require companies to offer workplace pensions like the new Pooled Registered Pension Plan being created in Canada. The new program will allow workers to set aside money through payroll deductions in a pension savings fund. It was originally started to help private sector workers in Canada who do not have a workplace pension plan to add to their personal savings for retirement. Firms will also have the choice to contribute to these funds as employers.