site.btaParliament Passes 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Bill on Second Reading

Parliament passed on second reading the 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Bill.

The total amount of revenues and transfers received under the 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget is EUR 15.265 billion, including EUR 6.745 billion in transfers from the central-government budget to make up the shortfall.

In 2026, EUR 13.503 billion has been allocated for the payment of all types of pensions and supplements to them, which is EUR 1.179 billion more than in 2025.

In 2026, women working under Work Category 3 will be eligible for retirement upon reaching the age of 62 years and 6 months and completing 36 years and 10 months of contributory service. The respective requirements for men are an age of 64 years and 9 months and 39 years and 10 months of contributory service.

The maximum monthly amount of one or multiple pensions received will remain unchanged from its 2025 level at EUR 1,738.40. A COVID monthly supplement of EUR 30.68 (BGN 60) will not apply to new pensioners.

Under the bill, the minimum monthly contributory-service and retirement-age pension will be EUR 347.51 from July 1 to December 31, while pensions have been increased under the Swiss rule by 7.8%.

As from August 1, 2026, the minimum monthly contributory income for self-insured individuals will be EUR 620.20, the same as the minimum monthly wage for 2026. As from the same date, the maximum monthly contributory income for all insured persons will be increased to EUR 2,300. Provisions are also made for a higher minimum contributory income for specified economic activities.

As from August 1, 2026, civil servants under the Civil Servants Act and those employed under the Judiciary Act will pay their personal social-security contributions at a ratio of 80%/20% between the employer and the insured person. As from January 1, 2027, the ratio will be 60%/40%.

The monthly child-care benefit payable until the child's second birthday and the monthly child-care benefit payable to the father (adoptive father) for raising a child until the child's eighth birthday will remain unchanged at EUR 398.81.

Opposition proposals to increase the child-care benefit during the second year of maternity leave, unemployment benefits, and the maximum amount of one or multiple pensions received, as well as to keep the current maximum and minimum contributory income unchanged, were rejected.

A proposal by Venko Sabrutev of Continue the Change for mothers who decide to return to work earlier to receive 100% of the maternity benefit was also rejected.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova explained that during the second year of maternity leave, if a mother decides to return to work, there is currently an incentive for her to do so in the form of 50% of the benefit. She said that the purpose of the benefit is to replace income and asked what income would be replaced by a 100% benefit payment.

"We will propose a comprehensive package of measures when it is possible to put one forward, given the fact that we need to start from scratch," Minister Efremova said. In her words, when the 2026 budget is adopted in the middle of the year, "we are not starting from scratch."