Bulgaria Poorest Retirees Get BGN 25 as Christmas Bonus

All Bulgarian retirees who have monthly pensions up to BGN 200 would get BGN 25 as Christmas bonus. Photo by Sofia Phot0 Agency

Bulgaria's retirees who had a monthly pensions up to BGN 200 in the month of December will officially receive BGN 25 as a Christmas bonus.

The bonus, formally approved Wednesday, will be paid in January to nearly 950 000 retirees. Those eligible should not have exceeded the BGN 200 monthly income for December, which includes all compensations and supplements.

The amount slated in the State budget for the retirees' bonuses is BGN 25 M to be provided through the social security reform reserve for 2010.

On December 13, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced the bonus and said the money will come from all ministries whose employees would not be handed additional pay this holiday season.

The PM also stated then that the retirees’ bonus is far from substantial, but pointed out that the 2010 budget has been passed with a BGN 0,5 B deficit and this is all the country can afford right now.