WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao pension fund APC is examining whether pensioners can still receive some form of financial compensation after the government decided not to increase pensions as of January 1, 2026.
APC director Evelyn Kruithof-Bor announced the review during the annual celebration of Pensioners’ Day organized by elderly association UPAH. More than 500 people attended the gathering held at the PWFC building.
The decision not to apply pension indexation means that retirees did not receive an increase this year. Pension indexation is intended to adjust pension payments in line with changes in prices or wages. Without such an adjustment, the purchasing power of pensioners can decline when the cost of living increases.
According to Kruithof-Bor, APC had a particularly strong financial year in 2025. The pension fund ended the year with a coverage ratio of 115.6 percent, meaning that APC had approximately ANG 115.60 in assets for every ANG 100 in future pension obligations.
However, the APC director emphasized that a strong coverage ratio does not automatically mean pensions can immediately be increased. The fund must also consider future obligations, financial market risks and the legal requirements governing pension funds.
The APC board will therefore first investigate what options exist to provide support to pensioners. Kruithof-Bor stressed that no decision has been made and that she cannot make any commitments regarding the amount, form or timing of a possible compensation measure.
It also remains unclear whether any possible support would be a one-time payment or a structural increase.
The announcement was made during UPAH’s annual Pensioners’ Day event. The celebration was held on Monday because the PWFC building was not available on the official Pensioners’ Day, which fell on Saturday, July 25.