Issam Lahmar, Minister of Social Affairs, Announces Retirement‑Pension and Salary Overlaps
Date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
The Ministry of Social Affairs disclosed that it has identified 123 retirees who are simultaneously receiving a retirement pension and a salary in both the public and private sectors.
Breakdown of the cases
| Sector | Number of cases | Estimated monthly cost (DZD) |
|---|---|---|
| Public | 34 | 51 000 DZD |
| Private | 89 | 71 000 DZD |
How the overlaps were detected
-
Public sector:
- The Ministry uses the INSAF payroll system to automatically flag any employee who resumes work after reaching retirement age while still drawing a pension.
- The system can detect overlapping payments within the same month, triggering an immediate suspension of the pension.
-
Private sector:
- Overlaps are uncovered during periodic verification campaigns coordinated with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS).
- These checks rely on data cross‑matching made possible by the web service linking CNRPS and CNSS, operational since September 2024.
Legal framework
The control targets affiliates of the National Retirement and Social Welfare Fund (CNRPS) who have returned to work after retirement and have opted to receive remuneration for that activity by renouncing their pension, as stipulated in Article 55 of Law No. 12‑1985 (governing civil and military retirement and survivor benefits in the public sector).
Consequences for violators
According to the same law, any retiree who combines a pension—regardless of its source—with a fixed salary or allowance will face:
- Immediate suspension of the pension payment.
- Mandatory repayment of all amounts improperly received during the period of overlap.
The Ministry emphasizes that these measures are applied without delay to protect the integrity of the pension system and to curb fraud.
Keywords: retirement pension, salary overlap, public sector, private sector, INSAF payroll, CNRPS, CNSS, pension fraud, Algeria social security, law 12‑1985.
