Social security benefits to rise from 2020

The government will implement a general increase in basic social security benefits from the beginning of next year, states an official press release.

The government on Wednesday submitted the relevant acts to the president for approval and the amendments will enter into force from 1 January 2020.

The objective of the increases in basic social security is to reduce inequality and the number of households dependent on social assistance, says the release..

As per the new acts, the minimum rehabilitation allowance, sickness allowance, parenthood allowance, basic unemployment allowance, and labour market support will be raised. The amount of the increase is EUR 20 per month.

The perk in the basic unemployment allowance will also raise the levels of earnings-related allowance and job alternation compensation. In addition to the general increase, these benefits tied to the National Pension Index will be subject to an index adjustment of 1.0%.

Child benefits for families with multiple children will be raised by EUR 10 per month for the fourth and each additional child. The single parent increment linked to child benefits will rise by EUR 10 per month.

The change will be implemented in such a way that families dependent on social assistance will also benefit from it.

For this reason, the basic amount of single parents’ social assistance will be increased. The child maintenance allowance will be raised by EUR 7 per month. In addition to the general increase, the child maintenance allowance is subject to an index adjustment.