Pensioners will receive a slight boost at month-end, with the basic portion of Social Insurance Fund (SIF) pensions rising 3.38% from 1 January 2026, matching initial estimates.
The supplementary portion receives no cost-of-living allowance (ATA) due to low inflation in 2025.
The Social Insurance Services of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance announced details yesterday on SIF pension levels and other benefits effective this year, based on legislation using data from the previous two years.
Specific adjustments from January
Social Insurance pensions increase as follows from 1.1.2026:
- Basic portion by 3.38%, raising the full basic pension to €529.82 monthly and minimum to €450.35 for beneficiaries without dependants.
- No increase in supplementary portion per Consumer Price Index.
In 2025, the basic portion rose 5.94%, with 1.49% added to the supplementary.
Social pension is set at €429.15 monthly from 1.1.2026, up from €415.13 last year.
Further changes from January 2026 include:
- Maximum insurable earnings rise to €1,325 weekly or €5,742 monthly.
- Deemed incomes for self-employed rise 3.38% from 5.1.2026.
- Funeral grant at €642.88; maternity grant at €1,095.21 (first child), €1,642.81 (second), €2,190.42 (third), €2,738.02 (fourth and subsequent) from 5.1.2026.
Low pension allowance protected
Upcoming basic pension increases will not negatively impact the low pensioner allowance. The Cabinet decided to absorb the cost until 30 June 2026, preserving eligibility.
As announced in December, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare will disregard SIF increases for low pensioner allowance calculations, preventing reductions or terminations.
This safeguards incomes for about 24,000 households under the Low-Income Pensioners Support Scheme, including those via Guaranteed Minimum Income. The absorption costs €13.5 million, ensuring uninterrupted support while beneficiaries gain from SIF rises.
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