Bill on pension supplement for lone seniors to be tabled to Lithuanian parliament

The Lithuanian government is on Tuesday presenting its proposal to pay a 28.63-euro monthly supplementary pension to lone seniors and people with disabilities as of July to the parliament for approval.

The monthly allowance would be equal to the widow's and widower's pension. The supplementary pension would be raised to 32 euros next year and would be paid to all single seniors and people with disabilities who are widowed, divorced or have never married.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte expects the new measure to help reduce poverty in Lithuania.

Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene estimates that around 60,000 people would receive a supplementary pension this year and over 400,000 would be eligible for a 32-euro allowance for lone persons and widows or widowers starting in 2022.

An additional 15 million euros in budget funding would be required for the proposed new allowance this year, and 106 million euros in 2022 and 2023 each. Another 3 million euros would be needed in 2022 and 2023 each to increase the widow's and widower's pension.