Every third farmer still receives a pension from the postman. KRUS spends millions on this

Every third farmer still receives his pension from the postman, said Elżbieta Oppenauer, spokeswoman for the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund. These costs amount to approximately PLN 70 million per year, which is why KRUS wants to encourage seniors to open bank accounts and is launching an information campaign, she added.

The campaign is intended to convince farmers that opening an account offers more benefits than receiving and storing money in cash; serves security, control over finances, comfort and saving – argue the representatives of the Fund.

“We are aware that for the older generation, the ability to use cash and direct, long-term relationships with the postman are a value in themselves. But we also see the shortcomings of this solution. The money in your account is safer, which is important in turbulent times and they reach the senior much faster than via mail,” says Dariusz Rohde, president of the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund, quoted in the KRUS press release.

He advises to use the help of children or grandchildren when opening a bank account, which is why part of the campaign is addressed to families. In his opinion, it is important to provide support also during the first operations and to explain, for example, how to use a card or telephone to pay bills.

The information campaign will be conducted mainly through KRUS local offices; information encouraging them to open accounts will appear, for example, on posters and leaflets, and the Fund's employees will also convince farmers during personal and telephone conversations.

KRUS Chief Accountant Agnieszka Myśliwiec admitted that The fund is looking for savings, and the amount of approximately PLN 70 million in annual costs of providing pensions is “a stake worth playing for.” She added that each money transfer using postal services costs PLN 18, which amounts to approximately PLN 6-7 million per month. “This money could remain in KRUS and be better used for the benefit of Polish farmers, including by improving the functioning of the Fund's activities, including facilitating farmers' access to our services through the KRUS mobile application,” Myśliwiec said.

The Agricultural Social Insurance Fund has been operating since 1991 as the institution responsible for farmers' social insurance; reports to the Minister of Agriculture. It is subsidized from the state budget. KRUS pays pensions, annuities and survivors' pensions of over PLN 1,171,000. farmers.

According to KRUS data, in August this year Over 774,000 people received money from the Fund into their bank accounts. people, and 397 thousand – by postal order. The largest number of seniors who receive benefits directly into their bank accounts live in the Opole region (77 percent of those eligible). However, postal orders are most often used by residents of Podkarpacie (43% of KRUS pensioners), Małopolska (42.3%) and Mazovia (36.2%). (PAP)

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