The government approved on Monday, by emergency ordinance, that the increase resulting from the recalculation process of pensions will not be taken into account when determining eligibility for housing heating assistance and energy supplement.
„This measure aims to support pensioners who, through the recalculation of their pension rights, would no longer fall under the provisions of Law no. 226/2021 regarding the establishment of social protection measures for vulnerable energy consumers. These categories of individuals are in a vulnerable situation, and this material support is essential to ensure a decent living,” stated the Minister of Labor, Simona Bucura-Oprescu.
The regulatory act approved by the Government also includes raising the threshold for beneficiaries of the Program for 90% compensation of the reference price of medicines from 1,830 lei to 2,020 lei, as well as adjusting the monthly income limit for receiving material support in the form of electronic social vouchers for food and hot meals.
Thus, the monthly income limit for pensioners and individuals classified as severely, significantly, or moderately disabled who are also pensioners, will increase from the current 2,000 lei to 2,210 lei.
The proposed increases take into account the average annual inflation rate of 10.4% in 2023, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics.
"Pensioners who, as a result of the new pension law, have higher pensions starting from September 1, 2024, will continue to benefit from the social protection rights granted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, as they did before," the Ministry of Labor conveyed in a press release.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had announced at the beginning of the Government meeting on Monday that the Government is adopting a complementary measure to the pension recalculation to ensure fairness for pensioners receiving social vouchers, subsidized medicines, and heating assistance.
"Today we are adopting a complementary measure to the pension recalculation, ensuring fairness for pensioners receiving social vouchers, subsidized medicines, and heating assistance. We are raising the income thresholds for them so that, even after recalculation, those with lower incomes continue to receive the necessary assistance.
Regarding food social vouchers, we are increasing the income limit from 2,000 to 2,210 lei. And for pensioners benefiting from the 90% compensation of the reference price of medicines, we are raising the income ceiling from 1,830 to 2,020 lei per month. In this way, we support over 2 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, and single-parent families," Marcel Ciolacu further stated.
Message for pensioners
Furthermore, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu assured pensioners that all those who, following the recalculation, have decisions with increased pensions, can be certain that this decision cannot be reversed. He also mentioned that those who prove that the recalculation of their pension was applied incorrectly will receive a priority response.
"All those who, following the recalculation, have decisions with increased pensions, can be certain that this decision cannot be reversed! And I assure them that no one can touch their money! Also, all those who prove that the recalculation of their pension was applied incorrectly will receive a priority response, with clear details on resolving the situation," conveyed Ciolacu.
He reiterated that, in the case of blind and disabled pensioners, the Government is swiftly preparing a compensation mechanism to ensure them a decent pension.