Jews receiving pensions from West Germany may now transfer them to the United States, Israel, South America and South Africa at the official rate of exchange up to $119 (500 deutschemarks) monthly in comparison to the $71 (DM 300) formerly allowed, according to an announcement by the Federal Ministry of Economics.
For Jews residing in countries affiliated with the Organization for European Cooperation (OEEC), the transfer limit has been fixed at $190 (DM 800) monthly. In addition to Great Britain, Jewish pensioners in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eire, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the Anglo-American zone of Trieste, will benefit by this measure.
The new regulations apply to persons entitled to restitution or compensation and who receive regular monthly pensions, no matter from what source. Beneficiaries include former German zabbis and employes of Jewish communal bodies whose pension claims are now being satisfied, in some measure, by the Federal treasury.
Apart from pensions, it has become possible, since January 1, to transfer restitution and indemnification payments not exceeding $119 a month to all non-German countries. The same amount may be remitted from a blocked account to the original owner residing abroad.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
