TIRANA, November 4 /ATSH/ – While presenting the 2027 draft budget to the Committee on Health and Social Welfare, Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj emphasized that the support for pensioners, improvement of their income and ensuring the sustainability of the social security system is a priority.
“This program accounts for approximately 67% of the Ministry’s total budget, which highlights the significance of social protection policies within our funding for the coming year,” the minister stated.
Ibrahimaj noted that urban pensions get increased with 1,800 to 3,600 lekë, while rural pensions with 1,000 to 2,000 lekë.
Ibrahimaj emphasized that a key aspect of this policy is the distribution of support throughout the 12 months of the year, which allows pensioners to receive additional income on a regular basis and more easily manage their daily expenses.
“In addition to this policy, we have earmarked a fund of 4 billion lekë for the indexation of pensions, aimed at preserving their purchasing power in light of rising prices for the goods and services that make up the ‘pensioner’s basket,” said Ibrahimaj.
In total, according to her, “About 24 billion lekë have been earmarked for 2027 for the indexation and support of income growth for pensioners—specifically, to increase their income through a pension bonus.”
Ibrahimaj noted that by the end of 2027, the number of pensioners across all categories is expected to reach 805,000, of whom 693,600 are recipients of old-age pensions.
Another significant indicator, she added, is the ratio between contributors and old-age pension beneficiaries; for 2026, this is projected to be 1.31 contributors for every old-age pension.
According to her, increasing formal employment, declaring actual wages and expanding the contributor base are essential for improving the pension system’s revenue and meeting future obligations. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./
