With the arrival of the New Year, support has increased for recipients of the state social security benefit, minimum old-age pension, disability pension and survivor pension, social assistance beneficiaries in municipalities, as well as for orphans and children left without parental care who have reached adulthood.
The increase in minimum benefits and pensions is part of the minimum income reform, which provides for an annual review of minimum income thresholds in absolute value in line with changes in the incomes of all residents. As a result of this review the state and municipal support in the social protection field is being increased.
From 1 January 2026, higher thresholds are set for the guaranteed minimum income, as well as for low-income and households in need. State social security benefits will increase for people with disabilities and for those who have reached the retirement age. The minimum disability pension will be raised, and the calculation base for the minimum old-age pension will increase. Support for children and young people who have lost a parent or guardian will also rise, including lump-sum me and monthly benefits for orphans and children left without parental care following out-of-family care. More information is available on the Ministry of Welfare website: https://www.lm.gov.lv/lv/minimalo-ienakumu-limena-reforma.
The minimum income reform is part of the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility Plan and represents a joint EU and Latvian initiative to strengthen social protection and improve social inclusion, contributing to increasingly positive changes in the material well-being of Latvian residents.