The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) announced today that first-time pensions will be allotted for Holocaust survivors who hid in France, for those who were persecuted in Romania and for survivors of the Leningrad Siege.
“I am again pleased to see more survivors recognized by the German Government for their unimaginable suffering,” said Stuart Eizenstat, special negotiator for the Claims Conference Negotiation Delegation. “It has been my honor to sit alongside some of these survivors as we negotiate year over year for a continued measure of justice.”
The first-time pensions will be distributed to about 6,500 survivors with monthly payments of $443. The Child Survivor Fund, a one-time payment, is also available for those who were persecuted and born in or after 1928. The pension program is currently accepting applications.
“Every year, these negotiations become more and more critical – as this last generation of survivors ages, their needs increase,” said Gideon Taylor, president of the Claims Conference. “Even 75 years after the Holocaust, these symbolic payments provide recognition and restore a piece of dignity taken from survivors in their youth.”
Last year’s negotiations delegated $1,400 for Jewish Nazi Victims who were eligible for the Hardship Fund. Approximately 1,700 survivors who received one-time payments and were previously prevented from receiving additional payments are now entitled to the Hardship Fund Supplemental payments.
“At a time when Holocaust survivors globally are facing insurmountable challenges due to COVID-19 and their fragility, we are proud to be able to offer some hope in that roughly $767 million in compensation programs will be dispersed to survivors around the world,” said Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference.
