Pension hikes, frozen aid fuel outrage

Bulgaria’s National Social Security Institute board will review the 2026 state pension budget on Wednesday, marking the first draft prepared in euros. Pension contributions will rise by 2 percentage points from January, while maximum insured income increases to 4,600 leva, and minimum income matches the proposed 605 euro minimum wage. The government expects to collect 1.2 billion euros more than this year to fund pension modernization starting July 1.

Pension increases will follow the Swiss rule at 7 to 8 percent, with the minimum pension reaching 347 euros by July. The average pension will climb to 541 euros, representing a 4.8 percent real increase after accounting for projected inflation of 3.5 percent. Benefits for mothers and unemployment payments remain unchanged under current proposals.

The Health Fund budget allocates 5.3 billion euros for healthcare next year. Hospital admissions are projected at 2.4 million, with 300,000 more hospitalizations than this year, at a cost of an additional 230 million euros. New cancer screening programs and genetic testing for tumor mutations will launch, while funds will support salary increases for hospital physicians.