The government suspended 80,000 fraudulent disability pensions that were granted by Kirchnerism.

The national government, through the National Disability Agency (ANDIS), suspended or terminated more than 80,000 Non-Contributory Pensions for Work Disability as part of a comprehensive audit covering one million beneficiaries. According to official sources, 60% of those who received this benefit did not attend the mandatory medical review, an essential requirement to maintain the benefit.

According to ANDIS, 65,230 people had their benefit suspended due to various irregularities; 8,207 voluntarily resigned from the state benefit to avoid a possible lawsuit, and another 6,643 were removed after the death of the beneficiary was confirmed. In some of these cases, payments continued to be collected by family members. In total, the State stopped paying 80,080 pensions, which represents a monthly saving of $23,143,120,000, considering the monthly amount of $289,000 per beneficiary.

The audit is carried out byPAMI medical professionals and staff from the National Disability Agency, and covers all adult beneficiaries under Law 13,478 and Decree 432/97, except for minors and individuals already audited in 2024.

"The importance of these audits is a necessary step to redirect resources toward people with disabilities and their families, ensuring that those who truly require support receive appropriate assistance", stated the agency. They also expressed their intention that "this process continue, allowing for greater transparency and fairness in the distribution of benefits".

The procedure includes notifying the beneficiary by certified letter, with the date, time, and place of the review. If the person doesn't attend, a second notice is sent. If the person still doesn't appear, payment of the benefit is suspended and the corresponding bank is notified.

Only if the person contacts ANDIS to regularize their medical situation can they avoid permanent removal. For the review, it is required to present the DNI, the Single Disability Certificate(if available)and the medical certificates that originated the pension.

The head of ANDIS, Diego Spagnuolo, stated that "between 2003 and 2015, the number of Non-Contributory Pensions for Work Disability increased from 80,000 to 1,050,000, an unprecedented number, even in countries that have suffered world wars". He added that "under Alberto Fernández's presidency, this figure rose again, reaching about 1,250,000 pensions between 2019 and 2023".

Additionally, the official maintained that during the Kirchner administrations, up to one thousand Non-Contributory Pensions for Work Disability may have been granted at political events, which would imply about 300 million pesos per month.

Among the cases detected in the audit, there were medical certificates with"amputations that were not such", the same x-ray used in 150 applications, diagnoses for "flat feet", incarcerated individuals, and deceased beneficiaries whose family members continued to collect payments. The case of a woman who"disguised herself to impersonate her husband" was also cited, as well as that of a son who admitted that his father "has been living in Egypt for months" while he was collecting the pension.

Decree 842/2024, published on April 9, reformed the current system and granted greater powers to ANDIS. The new legal framework imposes the "obligation to update data and re-register all beneficiaries", tightens incompatibility conditions, and allows the agency to "provisionally suspend benefits in the event of well-founded suspicions of irregularities".

The exchange of information with other agencies such as ANSES, AFIP, PAMI, and the Ministry of Justice is also authorized.

In this context, it was detected that 212 prisoners and 331 fugitives from justice were irregularly collecting work disability pensions. In 85% of the cases of beneficiary prisoners, the pensions were granted during Kirchner administrations.

The Executive keeps that the audits seek to ensure the responsible use of State resources. "Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's and Alberto Fernández's administrations implemented a policy of discretionary subsidies, not as a result of a medical evaluation and social need in the face of manifest vulnerability. This is what we're reversing", indicated ANDIS.