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Abu Dhabi, 7^th May 2024 - As part of its ongoing awareness efforts to enhance knowledge amongst groups covered and subject to the federal pension laws, the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) announced that the month of May is dedicated to raising awareness regarding the terms and conditions related to unfitness to work or what is known as “medical retirement.”

The decision comes as part of GPSSA’s awareness initiative
"Topic of the Month" which highlights a specific insurance topic each month, providing comprehensive and detailed explanation and awareness amongst members of the public.

Over the past month, the GPSSA has witnessed numerous inquiries about medical retirement on its social media platforms and has decided to dedicate a topic this month to identify cases covered, illnesses or diseases as a result of medical retirement and work injuries that quality for medical retirement. Steps that can be raised on GPSSA’s Ma’ashi platform under the pension entitlement service: “Work Fitness Assessment.”

Dr. Maysa Rashed Ghadeer, Head of Government Communication Office at the GPSSA, explained that the issues related to pension, retirement and insurance related must be continuously highlighted since they impact a large segment of Emiratis, including 154,619 insured individuals, 21,227 pensioners and 8,325 beneficiaries, in addition to 19,980 employers subject to the provisions of the federal pension laws. “Being updated and aware about the rights and benefits provided by social security and insurance is an essential component in ensuring a sustainable lifestyle for Emiratis and is a fundamental tool to make sound decisions that support career paths, resulting in social and financial stability in the present and future of our nation and its people.”

Medical retirement is defined as retirement brought upon by an individual's inability to work due to poor health or a debilitating physical injury. If deemed unfit to work, a person can medically retire before the regular retirement age. Such medical incidents are covered as per GPSSA’s federal pension laws, whether the insured is exposed to injuries while on the job or on their way to a job, given that the type of injury sustained results in hindering the individual’s ability to work, during which a retirement amount is applicable.

Federal Law No. 7 of 1999 on Pension and Social Security and its amendments has identified three cases eligible for retirement, namely: the end of the insured’s service due to total disability that completely and permanently prevents him/her from practicing any profession or work from which he/she earns a living, and the end of the insured’s service in the government sector due to medical unfitness, noting that these cases require proof by a decision undertaken by the competent medical committee, and in these cases it is required that the disability be proven during the period by which the insured is covered by the provisions of Federal Law No. (7) of 1999 on pension and social security and its amendments, and that the insured not be afflicted with disability before appointment and registration unless his/her health condition worsen, such that it leads to termination of service as proven by a decision taken by the relevant committee.