News

At the end of September 2020 the policy funding ratio was 96.8%. This is too low for us to be able to increase pensions. The HPF has to base its decision on the policy funding ratio: the average funding ratio over the previous 12 months. The policy funding ratio determines whether we can raise the pensions (indexation) or must reduce them (cutback). Given this policy funding ratio there was no other alternative for the Management than to decide not to increase pensions on 1 January 2021. However, the financial position of our pension fund is still adequate not to have to cut back our pensions. Read more on this subject in our blog.

The Compulsory Health Insurance (Zvw) statutory contribution has been increased to 5.7%. The contribution in 2020 was 5.45%. The HPF deducts the income-related Zvw contribution from the gross pension payments. This means that in 2021 you will receive slightly less pension. Note, however, that the maximum amount over which you pay the income-related Zvw contribution has been increased to € 58,311. In 2020 this was € 57,232. In other words, the amount deducted does change even if your gross pension doesn’t.

The Heineken Pension Fund executes your pension scheme. The pension fund uses several means of communication to communicate with you and the other participants. It is important for us to know what you think of our communication. We therefore invite you to complete the survey!

Word of thanks Robin Hoytema van Konijnenburg In 2005 I joined the board of the Heineken Pension Fund (HPF). And in 2014 I was allowed to become chairman.

The HPF must prepare an annual report annually. In this report, the board reports on, among other things, the policy pursued, the financial results, the implementation costs and the sustainability of the investments in the past year and also looks briefly ahead.

From June it will no longer be possible to transfer your accrued pension with the HPF to or from that pension provider in the event of a switch to another pension fund or pension insurer. A condition for value transfer is that the financial situation of both the HPF and the other pension provider is sufficient.

Rumors circulated in the media that several pension funds would not pay a survivor’s pension if members of the coronavirus die. We would like to emphasize that this is not the case with the HPF. If a (former) participant dies from the consequences of the corona virus, we will pay the survivor’s pension as usual. Even if the deceased participant has been in a risk area.

Wijzer in geldzaken (Money Wise) has a number of online tools that you can use to find out more about the level of your pension. One of these tools is the pension checklist. After answering a number of short questions, you will receive a number of tips for your pension. Click here for the checklist on the Wijzer in geldzaken website.

If you live abroad as a pensioner, we will request an annual “proof of life” from you. This is also known as an Attestate de Vita (AdV). This proof of life is necessary for the payment of your pension. This request will take place around October this year. We cannot yet estimate whether the corona crisis is affecting the acquisition of life certificates. You may not be able to arrange the proof of life around October due to the corona crisis. The HPF will in due course, based on the corona situation at that moment, assess how to deal with the situation and inform you about this.                  

The HPF administering body is responding to the government’s call. Our employees therefore work from home as much as possible.