Algeria to Disburse Pension Revaluation in Early May for 3.5 Million Beneficiaries, Signs Bank Deal to Expand Retirees’ Credit Access as Digitalisation Advances

BY Dr. Hana Saada

Algeria will begin paying revalued pensions and allowances during the first week of May for more than 3.5 million beneficiaries, the Director General of the National Retirement Fund (CNR), Abdelhafid Adrar, said on Monday.

The measure follows instructions from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordering the revaluation of retirement pensions and allowances. According to Mr Adrar, the increased payments will be disbursed in the first week of May for beneficiaries of both direct retirement pensions and survivor benefits.

He specified that the adjustment applies to all retirees who began receiving pensions before 1 May 2025. In the interest of social equity, retirees whose reference date is 1 May 2026 will also benefit from the same increase, he added.

The revaluation is implemented under Article 43 of Law 83-12, which provides for the updating of wages used as the basis for calculating retirement pensions, ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries are included.

The financial envelope allocated to the measure amounts to 88 billion dinars, according to the CNR chief.

In parallel, a cooperation agreement was signed on Sunday between the CNR and the Local Development Bank (BDL) to improve retirees’ access to credit facilities. Under the agreement, retirees will be able to obtain consumer loans, car financing, and housing loans, including Islamic finance through murabaha structures.

Loan applications submitted to BDL branches will be processed within three days for consumer credit and within a maximum of 15 days for housing loans, Mr Adrar said.

He added that the CNR is coordinating with several public institutions to improve retirees’ purchasing power and overall living standards through additional facilitation measures.

On modernisation, the CNR is expanding its digital infrastructure, including the introduction of electronic signature technology, currently being tested in Bordj Bou Arreridj before nationwide rollout by the third quarter of the year at the latest.

The fund has also developed digital platforms allowing workers nearing retirement to track their professional records remotely via a personal account system.

To streamline annual compliance procedures, retirees are now able to submit required documents—such as proof of life, marital status certificates and other civil records—through facial recognition technology via the “Takaoudi” application.

The CNR said it is moving towards full digitalisation of services in the medium term, aiming for a paperless system across its operations.