Belgian Retiree Stranded in Morocco Loses Pension, Faces Financial Crisis

Manuel, 68, received his 796.62 € pension every 24th of the month until the end of June. Unexpectedly, his pension was not paid into his account on July 26. The retiree begins to worry. He has tried many times to connect to the MyPension website. Without success. Manuel will eventually learn that he was removed from the population register of his municipality on June 26.

"I was counting on this money. After 15 days, I just don’t have anything left in my account," the sexagenarian confides to La Dernière Heure. He still can’t understand how this could have happened. "I wasn’t in Belgium and I don’t know what happened. I imagine that, since my car hasn’t been moved for a long time, the neighborhood agent opened a home investigation. I’m not reaching out, I’m not asking for a loan. Just that the Pensions pay the money I contributed to."

The sexagenarian is surprised by the situation because he found himself stuck in Morocco against his will. On March 20, Morocco had closed its borders. In July, repatriation flights to Belgium had been authorized but the flights were full, sometimes canceled at the last minute, and the prices were out of reach.

To date, Manuel has not yet received the support of the Belgian embassy or the legal service of the Dinant court. In Essaouira where he is confined, the retiree is beginning to despair: "I left school at the age of 16 and a half to go to work at Donnay (EDITOR’S NOTE: the famous tennis rackets) in Couvin. I did my military service and then I enlisted in the army, in the air force. I worked for a while in Florennes, in maintenance. I’m entitled to this pension."