site.btaOver 3,500 People Apply for Fuel Compensation, Social Ministry Reports

In less than 24 hours, over 3,500 people have applied for the EUR 20 compensation for the increased fuel prices, according to data from the Social Assistance Agency (SSA). SSA will be paying out the compensations to applicants who meet the conditions to receive them, the press centre of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy reported on Thursday.

The measure went into effect on Wednesday after the average retail price of diesel in the country remained at EUR 1.60 per liter for the third consecutive day. The first payments under it are expected to begin after April 15.

Only citizens who did not receive social assistance from the SSA in January or February 2026 need to submit an application for compensation. In order to receive funds in April, they must apply to the Social Assistance Directorate by March 31. Documents can be submitted on site, through a licensed postal operator or through the Electronic Services Portal of the Ministry of Electronic Governance, the ministry said. Citizens who received payments from the SSA in the first two months of the year do not need to apply for compensation and will be paid automatically by bank transfer or by mail, depending on the way they received their social assistance, the Ministry added.

Compensation will only be granted to individuals who are owners or co-owners of a motor vehicle, or who use a vehicle with a lease contract, have average gross income for 2025 that was less than or equal to EUR 652.41 (twice the poverty line). Since the campaign for submitting annual tax returns is underway, in case there is no information about the person's income for 2025, those from 2024 and the poverty line for the same year will be taken into account. In this case, the income criterion for access to assistance under the program will be EUR 537.88, the ministry also informed.