Nataliya Efremova: Social Payments Are Guaranteed

All social benefits included in Bulgaria's State Budget and the State Social Security Budget (DOO) are fully funded and guaranteed, ensuring that vulnerable groups will continue to receive their payments regularly, regardless of whether they are pensions, maternity benefits, or other social allowances, Social Affairs Minister Efremova said.

According to the minister, there were initial concerns during the budget preparation process about whether sufficient funding could be secured. However, after the final adoption of the budget, all planned social payments were fully guaranteed.

Efremova also explained the distinction between social assistance and the public social insurance system. She noted that current pensioners receive their pensions based on the contributions they have made throughout their working lives. Those with insufficient contributions generally receive minimum pensions.

She emphasized that the social insurance system operates on the principle that entitlement depends on the number and amount of contributions paid. When pension increases exceed the mechanism set out in the Social Security Code, the state budget must provide additional funding to implement policy decisions.

According to Efremova, this should not necessarily be viewed negatively, as such decisions are made when there are justified social and economic grounds.

She reiterated that all social payments provided for in the State Budget and the State Social Security Budget are secured, guaranteeing regular payments to the most vulnerable groups, including pensions, maternity benefits, and other social benefits.