New rules slash 13th pensions for retirees without long Slovak work history
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- 08 Nov 2024
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The recent legislation passed by the Slovak parliament introduces significant changes to the so-called "13th pensions," which are supplementary payments for retirees. Under the new rules, only those pensioners who have worked in Slovakia for a minimum of 10 years will be eligible to receive the full 13th pension payment. For individuals with fewer years of employment in the country, the benefit will be prorated, meaning they will receive one-tenth of the total amount for each year they worked in Slovakia.
This year, the 13th pension is set at €606.30. Therefore, a retiree with just one year of employment in Slovakia would only receive approximately €60. The ruling coalition had previously increased the 13th pension after taking office, but it became clear that the eligibility criteria were too broad, allowing not only Slovak nationals but also foreigners with limited work history in Slovakia to qualify for the full benefit.
Former labor minister Jozef Mihál highlighted the issue by providing an example of a Serbian national who worked in Slovakia for just one year a decade ago. Despite having a minimal Slovak pension, this individual would have qualified for the full 13th pension, which raised concerns about fairness in the system.
For Slovaks who have spent most or all of their working lives in the country, the requirement to receive both a regular retirement pension and the 13th pension is that they must have paid social contributions for at least 15 years. It's important to note that Slovak citizenship is not a prerequisite for receiving a pension under Slovak social insurance law. European regulations allow foreign workers with a history of employment in Slovakia to be eligible for pensions, even if they do not have permanent residence in the country, a provision that has been in place since 2004.
As of September 2024, the Slovak Social Insurance Agency reported that it had paid out 37,625 pensions to individuals living abroad, reflecting the diverse workforce and the implications of these new rules on retirees with varying work histories in Slovakia.
