“Second ceiling” of pensions so that there is no harm from rising by different percentages (Video)

The minimum pension should be 300 BGN from the beginning of 2021, and the maximum limit will be 1440 BGN. As of July 1, the lowest pensions between BGN 300 and 369 will be increased by 10%. The rest to the ceiling to increase by about 5%. However, there will be a second maximum limit of BGN 388.50, it will be for border pensions of BGN 369. The reason is that if they receive the total increase of 10%, people with pensions of BGN 370 will pass before the increase. This was announced by the Minister of Social Affairs Denitsa Sacheva in the Club “24 hours” Visionaries “, which brought together the ministers of Labor and Social Policy of the last 30 years to discuss the possibilities of increasing pensions.

Sacheva explained that this will cover a wider range of people. And right now, it will be difficult for lower-income people to get a bigger raise through welfare, because that would take longer. We are aware that we are currently in a state of crisis. Retirees are one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of health care costs, Sacheva explained.

“It is worrying that pensions are increased by a different percentage and that the ceiling is raised, but not tied to the maximum insurance income. All this aims to eliminate the logic of the pension system. I understand that there is a crisis situation, but it is not normal with a long-term system to compensate for a temporary crisis situation, because for that there is social assistance, “said former Minister of Social Affairs Ivaylo Kalfin. According to him, it was much fairer to recalculate all pensions with the Most of the former social ministers also agreed with this opinion. I am categorically against such an increase, said former Minister of Social Affairs Lydia Shouleva. She gave an example that in 2010 the minimum wage was 240 BGN and the minimum pension of -136 BGN, that is, 56% of salary. The average salary in the country at that time was 540 BGN and the average pension was 263 BGN, or the proportion was 46%. In 2020, the salary The minimum pension is already BGN 610 and the minimum pension is BGN 250, and the proportion is already 40%. Even more disturbing was the difference in the middle levels. With an average salary of BGN 1,350, the average pension is BGN 400, or the proportion is already around 30%. What security do we give people? Asked Shuleva. He believes that people cannot live with a pension of 250 BGN, but they must receive the support of the social system so that the pension system does not collapse.

According to the former Minister of Social Affairs and current head of the corresponding commission in Parliament Hasan Ademov, the recalculation of pensions is a very serious tool, but very expensive and of low efficiency. It would be difficult to find 100% justice, but it is important that there are far fewer injustices and that the structure of the pension reform is not interrupted, he explained.

The pension system cannot become social, Emilia Maslarova was categorical. He explained that there are criteria for social benefits, while now everyone receives bonuses of BGN 50.

Expect details of the discussion on decent pensions only in the newspaper “24 hours” and on the site 24chasa.bg