site.btaThe Poverty Line for 2026 Is Set to Reach BGN 764 in Draft Ordinance

Bulgaria’s poverty line for 2026 is set to reach BGN 764 in a draft ordinance that will be submitted to the Council of Ministers, Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said on Tuesday, following a meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation.

The meeting of the government, unions and employers was held to discuss the 2026 poverty-line ordinance. The draft was published for public consultation on July 2.

The poverty line for 2025 was BGN 638, and the increase is BGN 126, or 19.7%. The Minister noted that the change would affect many people in Bulgaria.

The new poverty line will increase the incomes of over 790,000 citizens with permanent disabilities. For them, the monthly financial assistance will exceed BGN 435. The number of people entitled to social support and heating allowances will increase by about 45,000, bringing the total to around 483,000, Minister Gutsanov added. He also noted that 4,100 children will receive higher assistance, which represents significant support for them. More than 1.4 million people in Bulgaria live below the new poverty line, accounting for 21.7% of the population, he added.

The draft will be discussed at a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday.