STA, 1 January 2021 – Slovenian pensioners are expecting higher pensions in the new year, as a pension increase of around 4% is expected to be introduced in February after the payment of one-off allowances for low-income pensioners in January.

According to the latest package of benefits for covid, adopted at the end of December, pensioners with pensions below 732 euros per month will receive a one-time supplement of 130, 230 or 300 euros by the end of January.

By the end of March, they will also pay a solidarity allowance of 150 euros.

According to the valid law, the indexation of pensions will take place in February, when the settled amount will be paid, the public pension and disability fund ZPIZ announced, adding that the January adjustment will also be carried out.

It is still in the air whether there will be an increase in pensions in order to completely eliminate the deficit suffered by retirees as a result of austerity measures during the financial crisis.

The Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) has proposed a 3.5% increase in pensions in return, but even if such indexation were to occur, the amount is questionable. The last unplanned indexation occurred in December 2020 with an indexation rate of 2%.

The annual pension supplement will be paid with June pensions and will range from 140 to 450 euros. The highest amount will be received by those with a pension of up to 570 euros.

Disability benefits, meanwhile, will range from 140 to 250 euros. The highest amount will be received by disabled people who receive a disability allowance of up to 805 euros.

From 20 June, people with disabilities will benefit from enhanced social inclusion activities from 2022. In addition, the participation fee will increase by 2.5% in March.

In 2022, there will be some new rules for retirement. For men, a pension for 40 years of pensionable service will be calculated in the amount of 61.5% of the retirement age, which is two percentage points more than in 2021.

In addition, the age required to qualify for a widow’s pension will be 58 years, which is six months more than in 2021.

The New Year will also implement the Long-Term Care Act, which will enter into force on 18 January.

In 2022, the Health Insurance Institute of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia will also be employed as the legal provider of compulsory long-term care insurance. The institute must be ready for new tasks by the end of the year at the latest.

The benefits provided by the law will be gradually introduced by 2024, starting with the right to long-term institutional care and from 1 January 2023 to the carer.

The new system will be financed from the budget for the first two years, and in 2025 a special law on compulsory long-term care insurance is expected to enter into force.