Pensions indexed 6.84% from April 1; minimum pension set at 3,264 lei
Pensions will increase on April 1. The Government approved a 6.84% indexation and a fixed increase of 51.33 lei for pensions calculated under the public pension system law.
Starting April 1, 2026, the minimum old-age pension will be set at 3,264.66 lei. For individuals who have contributed for at least 40 years, the minimum pension will increase to 3,525.72 lei.
The minimum disability pension will vary between 1,632 lei and 2,448 lei, depending on the degree of disability.
During a meeting on March 25, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru, announced that pensions will be recalculated automatically, so there will be no need for individuals to submit applications.
"Through this project, we protect the purchasing power of pensioners and ensure a decent standard of living, especially for vulnerable groups. Overall, the average pension increase is approximately 8%," emphasized Natalia Plugaru.
This indexation will apply to all types of pensions, including old-age and service pensions, pensions for civil servants and customs employees, disability pensions, and those established under the law for citizens affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
The fixed increase of 51.33 lei this year is determined by taking the average pension amount and multiplying it by 50% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase from the previous year, expressed in comparable prices.
If the pension amount calculated under the law is lower than the minimum pension for that category, the difference will be covered by the state budget as a solidarity supplement, which will not be indexed.
The costs associated with the indexation of social benefits exceed 2 billion lei, including 1.5 billion from the state social insurance budget and over 500 million from the state budget. Implementing the fixed increase of 51.33 lei will require approximately 300 million lei in funding.
Additionally, through another project approved in the same meeting, the Government has increased expenditure norms for the maintenance of individuals in social institutions and daily allowances for children in family placements by 6.8%.
As a result, daily allowances will rise from 25 to 27 lei, holiday allowances from 145 to 155 lei, and birthday allowances from 204 to 218 lei.
"This year, we expect that the indexed allowance will benefit around 2,625 children in placement services, including professional parental assistance services, family-type children's homes, and guardianship or placement centers," stated Natalia Plugaru.
According to a Moorepay analysis, the Republic of Moldova is among European countries where pensioners' incomes are insufficient, covering only 42% of their expenses. Moldova ranks alongside Georgia (22%), Albania (29%), and Ukraine (29%) as countries where "pensions do not even cover half of living costs."
