Details of the new bonus and the challenge pensioners face with prices

The new scheme for distributing pensions bonuses has been in effect since January of this year. Sources from the Ministry of Economy stated that the government is distributing a total fund ranging between 8 and 9 million euros per month in the form of direct bonuses.

Under the new rules, beneficiaries who receive a partial pension or have a monthly income of up to 22,000 lek receive an additional 800 lek per month.

Meanwhile, support increases for those with a full pension that still falls below the 40,000 lek threshold, receiving a higher bonus of up to 1,800 lek per month.

This mechanism is designed as a form of monthly redistribution to mitigate the effects of inflation, focusing primarily on low and medium pensions that fall below the critical consumption threshold.

The initiative aims to ease the cost of living for the most vulnerable groups by distributing assistance progressively according to the monthly income levels of the elderly.

However, the situation for pensioners in Albania remains challenging, as the rise in living costs is outpacing income adjustments.

For a large portion of the elderly, this bonus is not enough to make ends meet without family support, as the average pension in the country covers only about 30% of actual monthly expenses, according to international organizations’ calculations.

While Albania has just begun implementing a bonus scheme ranging from 800 to 1,800 lek (approximately 8–18 euros) on an average pension of around 200 euros per month, other Western Balkan countries are pursuing more aggressive policies in this regard.

The average pension in Serbia is expected to reach about 488 euros by 2026, following consecutive double-digit increases, according to official sources.

Montenegro has already set a relatively high floor for minimum pensions, around 450 euros, significantly above the regional average.

Low-income pensioners are forced to make difficult choices between food and medicine. Doctors report that many elderly people interrupt treatment for chronic diseases to save money, which leads to more costly medical emergencies for the state.

When pensions are insufficient, the financial burden shifts to children and family members. Funds that could be invested in children’s education or business development are redirected to meet the basic needs of elderly parents.

Poor financial treatment of pensioners also contributes to higher informality. Current workers, seeing that contributions made over the years do not guarantee a dignified retirement, choose not to pay social security, exposing themselves to long-term pension insecurity.

“KORÇA BOOM”