2024-07-15 18:09:17
- The increase will be BGN 112.
- From January 1, the benefits of 670,000 people with disabilities will be higher – between BGN 44.66 and BGN 363.66.
The poverty line will be BGN 638 from January 1, 2025. This is foreseen by a draft decree of the Council of Ministers, which has been published for public discussion. The increase is 21.3% (BGN 112) compared to its current amount – BGN 526.
Over 812,000 pensioners will live on less than BGN 638 per month, who currently receive minimum pensions of up to BGN 580.57.
As of July 1, pensions were increased by 11%, thereby reducing pensioners receiving amounts up to the poverty line. So at the moment they are 324,800. In total, there were over 1.5 million Bulgarians below the poverty line until April.
A number of social payments are also determined from the poverty line – financial assistance to people with disabilities, as well as social benefits and those for children at risk and their families. Furthermore
the poverty line is also an indicator of heating subsidies
During the last heating season, 324,674 people and families were assisted, which is nearly 23,000 more than the previous period. This year, the monthly amount of the heat aid is BGN 110.75, and in total for the five months they will receive BGN 553.75.
Disability benefits are also given based on the percentage of disability, but also as a percentage of the poverty line and are thus updated every year. About 670,000 people receive such benefits.
What will the new amounts be:
- from 50 to 70.99% degree of disability – BGN 44.66 (7% of the poverty line)
- from 71 to 90% degree of disability – BGN 95.7 (15% of the poverty line)
- over 90% degree of disability – BGN 159.5 (25% of the poverty line)
- over 90% degree of disability with foreign aid, who receive a disability pension – BGN 191.40 (30% of the poverty line)
over 90% degree of disability with foreign assistance, who receive a social pension for disability, for military disability, for civil disability, or inheritance pension – BGN 363.66 (57% of the poverty line).
The aid for balneotherapy will be BGN 510.40. It is given once a year, but after a doctor’s prescription.
BGN 510.40 can be received once next year by people with permanent disabilities, if they are single or are single parents with a child with permanent disabilities and the rental contract has been concluded with them, as well as if they are placed under complete guardianship.
The same amount – BGN 510.40 – will also be given to people with foreign aid to cover their expenses for a companion.
The amount of the targeted aid for buying a car and adapting a home to a disabled person is also determined by the poverty line, but after a social assessment.
Next year, 55,000 individuals and families are expected to receive benefits under the Social Assistance Act. On average, 4,800 children per month will be supported for the purpose of prevention and reintegration, raising the child in a family of relatives or relatives or in a foster family.
“Every year, the size of the poverty line is updated in order to better formulate social policies, monitor their implementation, and also evaluate the results of policies in the area of living standards and quality of life of people. The poverty line occupies an important place in the policy area aimed at reducing poverty among different social strata of the population, including and to the “working poor”, wrote the official social minister Ivaylo Ivanov in his report to the project.