How Much Will Pensions and Benefits Increase: Decision Accepted

During today's meeting, the Armenian government adopted a decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, making amendments to a decision made on August 24, 2022, which already provided for an increase in all basic pensions and benefits starting September 1 of this year.

The issue was that the previous decision outlined varying amounts for the increases, which had led to protests among socially vulnerable groups. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had instructed the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to resolve the matter based on the principle of equality.

As a result, with the newly adopted decision, all social payments will increase uniformly by 3,000 drams.

It is worth recalling that the government’s decision on August 24, 2022, established the basic pension amount at 21,000 drams (up from 18,000 drams, an increase of 3,000 drams), and the minimum pension was set at 30,500 drams (up from 28,600 drams, an increase of 1,900 drams). The amounts for military pensions in case of disability and for the families of deceased servicemen were increased by 2,000 drams.

Additionally, benefits for old age, disability, and loss of the caregiver have also increased by 1,900 drams (now set at 30,500 drams).

According to the decision accepted today, starting September 1, the minimum pension, as well as benefits for old age, disability, and loss of caregiver will be set at 31,600 drams. The pension amount for first-group disability for servicemen is set at 46,000 drams, for second-group disability it is 36,000 drams, and for third-group disability, as well as for the loss of the caregiver in case of a deceased serviceman, the military pension amounts will be 33,000 drams.