Millions Needed for Increasing Disability Pensions 0 9

A call to raise disability pensions to at least the minimum subsistence level has been published on the civil initiative platform "ManaBalss." If this is done and all 76,800 disability pension recipients receive 500 euros per month in the future, an additional 197 million euros will need to be allocated from the state budget; if 700 euros, then 290 million euros, according to the Ministry of Welfare.

As for the amount of pensions for disabled individuals in groups I and II, it depends on the salary that was earned before the disability was established and on the work experience.

"We all make contributions, of which 2.29% goes to disability insurance. If a person becomes disabled at a young age, and the pension is paid for a long time, this occurs on the principle of solidarity, as their contributions do not cover the necessary amount," explained Ministry of Welfare expert Dace Trušinska.

Since 2023, minimum pensions are indexed twice a year, including in October of this year, when they were increased by 6.3%. Disabled individuals in groups I and II can apply to the State Social Insurance Agency for a pension recalculation once a year, and starting from April 1 of the following year, this will be done automatically. Working disabled individuals can receive both a full pension and a salary.

If we want to increase funding for these purposes, it should be done from the main budget, but this will require significant costs, noted Trušinska. When asked about the definition of the minimum subsistence level, she replied that such a norm has not existed since 2013, so it is unclear what amount the initiators of the petition would like to establish as the lower threshold.