Abu Dhabi widow benefits from pension fund's plan

Abu Dhabi: An elderly widow living in a remote area of Abu Dhabi emirate was surprised to receive Dh150,000 from the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund recently.

Her husband had died a long time ago but she did not know she was the beneficiary of a pension scheme and entitled to receive a portion of his pension after his death.

She was unaware that family members were entitled to receive benefits linked to that pension after the person dies, said Hamad Saif Al Mansouri, the Fund's recently-appointed Director- General, while announcing its five-year strategic plan.

On the very first day of the Fund's new outreach programme the pension team succeeded in tracking down the woman, he said.

The fund plans to give a new and improved service to pensioners through a strategic partnership with a 'one-stop-shop' at Integrated Service Centres (TAMM) in the Western Region Municipality. The service will also shortly be introduced in Al Ain.

Now rather than them coming to the Fund, the Fund is coming to them, said Al Mansouri. The strategic plan unveiled four key priorities and 26 initiatives. These initiatives are part of the Fund's vision to become a leading provider of pensions and benefits services.

Initiatives: Public awareness

• Outreach programme increases customer access to pensions and benefits services across the emirate via outreach visits and cooperation with Al Ain and Western Region Municipalities and its successful TAMM Centres.
• Public awareness campaign to increase citizens' knowledge of the fund's services.
• Training programme to support Emiratis wishing to pursue a career in pensions administration.
• Stringent selection procedures for fund managers, and performance monitoring and review to guarantee optimum returns on prudent long-term investments.
• Introduction of state-of-the-art systems and facilities to boost the efficiency of pensions and benefits services.