site.btaSocial Minister Gutsanov: Christmas Supplements Not in Jeopardy, to Be Paid with December Pensions

The Christmas supplements are not in jeopardy despite the suspension of the budget procedure. There is a Council of Ministers decision in place, and the supplements will be paid together with the December pensions, Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said in an interview for Bulgarian National Television on Sunday.

He nevertheless reminded the opposition that excessive delays in adopting the financial framework for next year could cast doubt on several planned increases: the higher child-care allowance for the second year, which is set to rise from BGN 780 to 900; the higher minimum wage of BGN 1,213; and increased social payments. All of these parameters are included in the 2026 State Budget, and entering the new year without its adoption would put them at risk.

“Does anyone oppose raising the minimum wage, increasing pensions under the Swiss rule, which will not be touched, or raising the second-year maternity benefits after being frozen for three years? If someone objects, let them come forward and say so,” Gutsanov added. He called on all parties to return to the negotiating table and submit their proposals so that the best decisions can be made.

“The important question is how we ensure that people live better, and the budget is the most important tool to make that happen. I don’t believe anyone is against our social policies,” Gutsanov said.

He underscored the need to examine fairness within the disability-assessment system. He pointed to the fact that in a country of 6.4 million people, there are 790,000 Territorial Expert Medical Commission disability rulings.

“Personal assistants numbered 19,300 in 2019–2020; now they exceed 90,000. We need to provide more support to those who genuinely need it. A young woman who lives in Sofia cannot be officially registered to assist her grandmother who lives in Razgrad,” he added.

Gutsanov also highlighted major reforms in elderly care. “We have closed 15 “horror homes” and revoked their licenses. We have begun renovating all 81 state-funded care homes. We are opening more than 250 new social services, new facilities. Just this week we opened five entirely new residences for elderly people. Over the last seven governments, only three new facilities with a total of 50 places were opened. Now we are opening five new ones with a capacity of 100. Next year, we will try to open ten more,” he added.