This new law was first introduced as House Bill 8-1-1 in January of this year by Delegates Jonathan Isechal, Kalistus Ngirturong, Wayne Andrew, Marhence Madrangchar, Horace Rafael, Celestine Yangilmau, Swenny Ongidobel, Rebluud Kesolei, Jerry Nabeyama and Tmewang Rengulbai. Delegate Isechal says that it was the first bill introduced by the House of Delegates of the 8th Olbiil Era Kelulau shortly after its installation on January 15th of this year and passed three separate readings in record time and submitted to the Senate on February 3rd of this year. Delegate Isechal says, ‘there is no doubt that this legislation was given the stamp of approval as priority number for the Delegates.’
‘The people of Palau who were deprived of Social Security benefits and had to make drastic adjustments due to sudden loss of family income because of previous amendments to the Social Security Act, will finally have their benefits restored by this new law, so they can better provide for themselves and their families, especially in these times of economic hardships,’ says Delegate Isechal.Isechal admits that the previous Congress (7th OEK), of which he was a member, made a mistake by passing amendments to the Social Security Act that imposed earning test requirements and other restrictions which essentially reduced, and in some cases eliminated benefits, to individual Palauans over 60 years of age who contributed many years of hard earned income into the system and are entitled to those benefits. Isechal makes the continuing commitment to working closely with the Social Security Board of Directors to provide further review of all the beneficiaries and make adjustments to address those individuals at the lower end of the scale and propose the necessary changes to provide fairness and balance to the entire Social Security system.Isechal points out that passage of this important legislative measure was a direct result of a good collaborative effort of both members of the House of Delegates and the Senate over the past several months.
