site.btaPayment of Increased Pensions Begins

The payment of newly indexed pensions for July 2026 through post offices begins on Tuesday, July 7, and will continue through July 20, the National Social Security Institute said. Pensioners receiving their benefits by bank transfer will have the funds credited to their accounts on Tuesday.

The 7.8% pension increase, applied under Bulgaria's so-called Swiss rule indexation formula, covers all retirement pensions granted by end-2025. The same increase also applies to survivor's supplements paid to pensioners who receive part of a deceased spouse's pension.

The minimum old-age pension for length of service and age has also been increased by 7.8%, rising from EUR 322.37 to EUR 347.51. The adjustment also raises the minimum amounts of other work-related pensions calculated on the basis of the minimum old-age pension, including reduced old-age pensions for incomplete contribution records, disability pensions, survivors' pensions and other related benefits.

The social old-age pension has likewise been increased by 7.8% as of July 1, reaching EUR 183.81 under a decree adopted by the Council of Ministers.

As of July 1, 2026, newly awarded work-related pensions no longer include the additional monthly payment of EUR 30.68, commonly referred to as the COVID supplement, which had previously formed part of pension payments.

According to the draft 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Act, the average pension is projected to reach EUR 543.46 in 2026. A total of EUR 13.503 billion, equivalent to 10.8% of projected GDP, has been earmarked for pension and supplementary benefit payments in 2026. This represents an increase of EUR 1.179 billion, or 9.6%, compared with 2025.