National Social Security Agency

With the July 31 deadline to agree on a repayment schedule for their debts to the state having come and gone, and with very few takers, authorities are taking the next steps: shaming and, hopefully, collecting, although the latter part will be far from easy, officials admit.

In April, Bulgarian retirees with a pension ranging from BGN 300.01 up to BGN 369, which is392 000 people, will receive additional BGN 120 for food. That would cost the state budget about BGN 47 million. With this BGN 120 they will have the opportunity to buy whatever they need, the money is targeted specifically for food products.