KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: A decree has been issued amending the Retirement Pension and Benefits for Military Personnel Law, which stipulates the minimum retirement pension for those supporting seven children or more shall be KD1,615 based on the total pension, contributions and due increments; regardless of the year of their determination, name and the party bearing them, reports Al- Anba daily.

The amendment stipulates that through the decision of the concerned minister and after the approval of the board of firectors of the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS); the minimum pension of other retirees is KD1,010 for a single woman; KD1,126 for a married person with no dependents; KD1,196 for a person supporting one child; KD1,265 for a person who supports two children; KD1,335 for someone who has three children; KD1,405 for someone who has four children; KD1,475 for someone who has five children and KD1,545 for someone who supports six children.

The decision also specifies the rules and conditions for the subsidy and the consequences of changing the social status of the pensioner in terms of continuing to disburse the amount of the increase of the minimum or modifying it. The decision may be issued by the minister in case of the absence of the board of directors, provided that it is presented at the first meeting. The decree allows the minimum limit for retirement pensions to be amended upward by a decision of the minister after the approval of the board of directors. The decree stipulates that in all cases, what is due by the amended provisions of Article Seven may not be less than what is due before the date it takes effect and PIFSS shall bear the financial burdens resulting from the application of the provisions of this law.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) Al-Humaidi Al- Mutairi expressed his happiness over the approval of some amendments to Disabled Affairs Law No. 8/2010, reports Al-Anba daily. As per the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad and Minister of Social, Family and Childhood Affairs Sheikh Firas Al-Saud; the country focuses on comprehensive care for people with disabilities. The amendments are aimed at supporting those taking care of people with disabilities and the handicapped themselves to provide them with a decent life, Al-Mutairi disclosed.

On the other hand, Al-Mutairi confirmed that the concerned entities like the Activities and Media Department in welfare homes affiliated with the Medical, Psychological and Social Services Sector; and welfare homes and the Vocational Rehabilitation Department affiliated with the Educational and Rehabilitation Services Sector at PADA will organize the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the theme, “I Am Talented”, at the Avenues Mall on Dec 7. He said this event will highlight the importance of the role of the disabled, their skills and abilities, ways to integrate them into society, identify the outcomes of integration, activate and employ them in developing society and raise their status economically, socially and psychologically.

In addition, the Deputy Director General of Educational and Rehabilitation Services and the authority’s official spokesman Mubarak Al-Badah revealed that Kuwait is one of the first countries that paid attention to persons with disabilities. He said this has been demonstrated since the 1950s through the establishment of facilities for people with disabilities, including schools and public benefit associations specializing in people with disabilities, in addition to issuing laws guaranteeing a decent life for them.