Balgarianovinite.com The parliamentary labour and social policy committee adopted at first reading a bill amending and supplementing the Social Assistance Act, submitted by MP Denitsa Sacheva of GERB-UDF and a group of MPs on March 12. The bill was adopted with 13 votes in favor, with no against votes or abstentions.
The changes introduce a new social supplement paid twice a year, at Easter and Christmas. Its amount will be determined by the State Budget Act. The beneficiaries will include eight vulnerable groups, whereas before only pensioners were eligible.
“Since 2022, a total of BGN 543 million, or around EUR 260 million, has been paid for Easter and Christmas bonuses, funded by the state budget, and each time they become the subject of various political disputes and debates,” said Denitsa Sacheva, chairperson of the committee, who presented the bill. “There is broad consensus that these bonuses are not targeted in the most effective way, and a focused payment would increase the sense of fairness and solidarity, which is why this draft has been proposed,” she added. Sacheva also noted that she will propose the bill for a second reading in the plenary chamber.
“The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy supports this bill, which cannot come into effect for the Easter holidays, but I hope it will be implemented for Christmas,” said caretaker Minister Hasan Ademov. He added that this approach will resolve the recurring tension faced by every social minister before the holidays. “We decided that vulnerable groups should be supported with a larger amount, while those between the poverty line and the minimum wage will receive a smaller sum,” Ademov added.
Tsvetan Predov from There Is Such a People said that he will support the bill.
“In September 2025, we submitted an amendment to the Family Benefits for Children Act, and for five months now the social committee has not found time to review this draft,” said Venko Sabrutev from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria. He asked why the draft has not been considered. Denitsa Sacheva replied that the reason is that the draft has not yet received assessments from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Petkova, Director of the Policy for People with Disabilities, Equal Opportunities, and Social Assistance Directorate Eleonora Pachedzhieva, and Asya Doneva, a consultant at the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). Parliamentary Committee Introduces By Law Easter and Christmas Supplements for Vulnerable Groups 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-03-17 18:00:10 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law