A change in Polish law will allow Holocaust survivors not living in Poland to receive monthly pension payments.

The revised law will allow the Polish Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression to transfer a “monthly pecuniary allowance,” about $135, to the eligible survivors.

Survivors of Polish descent previously had to have a Polish bank account or someone in Poland willing to transfer the money to them in order to receive the benefits.

The change in law was first reported last week by the Times of Israel.

Before the change, fewer than 50 people living outside Poland had applied for the pensions, according to the news website. As many as 50,000 Israelis reportedly are eligible for the pensions.

The change goes into effect in October for residents of the European Union, and for the rest of the world next April. — jta