ssa-gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2008-2009/europe/bulgaria.html
2025-02-19 12:17:21 -08:00

261 lines
No EOL
31 KiB
HTML

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en" class="no-js">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
<title>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2008 - Bulgaria</title>
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCreated" content="2008-09" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOffice" content="ORDP:ORES" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOwner" content="publications@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coderOffice" content="ORDP:ORES:OD" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coder" content="op.webmaster@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCertified" content="2025-01-01" />
<meta name="description" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/doc.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/global.css" />
<!-- SSA INTERNET HEAD SCRIPTS -->
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-/JqT3SQfawRcv/BIHPThkBvs0OEvtFFmqPF/lYI/Cxo=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.head.js"></script>
<script>(window.BOOMR_mq=window.BOOMR_mq||[]).push(["addVar",{"rua.upush":"false","rua.cpush":"false","rua.upre":"false","rua.cpre":"false","rua.uprl":"false","rua.cprl":"false","rua.cprf":"false","rua.trans":"SJ-3a3bb884-f513-47e3-a86c-84bab05e21dc","rua.cook":"true","rua.ims":"false","rua.ufprl":"false","rua.cfprl":"false","rua.isuxp":"false","rua.texp":"norulematch","rua.ceh":"false","rua.ueh":"false","rua.ieh.st":"0"}]);</script>
<script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n="false"=="true"?1:0,t="cookiepresent",a="eyd7g6aaiaaamjqacqdfqaaaabt3mosp-f-76ddedf2d-clienttons-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"1204614","ak.ai":parseInt("728289",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":8,"ak.ipv":6,"ak.proto":"h2","ak.rid":"14c8bc4a","ak.r":19138,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"2607:f378:40:6::","ak.cport":40630,"ak.gh":"23.60.168.62","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.3","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"","ak.t":"1739995727","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==aQW3pQ/4a5NWmCQoH00ax+XpKx5HwPxMl3oJDC7+nb4GKO4MlKy6iLshOULqgjh5HP+rMqno/Nk8lhTYLdCBlUAjA4QvTpl1eK3haSDtIPCUIFB1+6UwCR4TPaKLXNfZjH7NqoE7+BeUtbZpUUsHd6y6nA14LxiiKCG3m/ASlVGzGBe+3MZb8HE40gPOCox1UTOJHqrdpASJrc+YiisylQYuvfFaRUP0NYEsg9qFiGa1mUkqkRVNipkYi6luy3NIMYV5PH1dttO15k3Pz3NNc2qqevWtr0850EsJ95bkoUuQ/EXtUB5mtoBIUo8EawGezC7vg+6LmMZJtuwBfABGcMPZqMrhNFLPHIu1IWtKRoqe4kEue9aZLtQZLcGENQlIEvD/IIFWmyk6lQ20j3o4g9fmfJoIv7NjrGaT5fbhmJk=","ak.pv":"98","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head>
<body class="ssptw">
<article>
<header>
<div id="hLogo"><a class="navLogo" href="/policy/index.html">Social Security</a><a class="navSearch" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa">SEARCH</a></div>
<div id="hRedBar">
<div id="hDocInfo">
<h1>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2008</h1>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<nav>
<div id="breadcrumbs" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">You are here: <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Administration</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research, Statistics &amp; Policy Analysis</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2008</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></span></div>
<div id="rspaUtil"><ul><li id="mail"><a class="js-ga-event" href="#" rel="nofollow" data-event="outbound-link" data-event-action="click" data-event-label="email-this">Email</a></li><li id="print"><a href="#" rel="nofollow">Save/Print</a></li></ul></div>
</nav>
<div class="innards">
<h1>Bulgaria</h1>
<div class="exchangeRate">Exchange rate: US$1.00 equals 1.33&nbsp;leva.</div>
<h2>Old Age, Disability, and Survivors</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1924.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current laws:</span> 2000 (social insurance), with amendments; and 2000 (pensions), with amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance, mandatory individual account, and social assistance system.</p>
<p>Note: A new system consisting of a modified social insurance first pillar plus a second pillar of individual accounts was implemented between 2000 and 2002. Participation in the new system is mandatory for those persons born after December&nbsp;31, 1959, who are covered by social insurance. All others are covered only by social insurance.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed persons, self-employed persons, free-lance professionals, artists, craftsmen, and farmers.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage is not possible.</p>
<p>There are no special systems for any specified groups of employees under the first pillar.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> For persons born before January&nbsp;1, 1960: 8.8% of covered earnings (social insurance); for persons born after December&nbsp;31, 1959: 6.8% of covered earnings (social insurance) plus 2% of covered earnings (mandatory individual account) and up to 1% per year of accumulated funds for administrative fees.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 220&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> For persons born before January&nbsp;1, 1960: 22% of declared covered earnings for social insurance only; for persons born after December&nbsp;31, 1959: 17% of declared covered earnings (social insurance) plus 5% of declared covered earnings (mandatory individual account) and up to 1% per year of accumulated funds for administrative fees.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 240&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> For persons born before January&nbsp;1, 1960: 13.2% of covered payroll for social insurance; for persons born after December&nbsp;31, 1959: 10.2 % of covered payroll (social insurance) plus 3% of covered payroll (mandatory individual account).</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 220&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> Any deficit in the social insurance system and the cost of social pensions; contributes as an employer.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<h4>Old-age pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance:</span> Age&nbsp;63 (men) or age&nbsp;59 and 6&nbsp;months (women). The insured's age plus the length of the insured's coverage period must be equal to at least 100&nbsp;points (men) or 93&nbsp;points (women) (individuals are awarded one point for each year of age as well as one point for each year of coverage).</p>
<p>The retirement age for women is increasing gradually by 6&nbsp;months each year until it reaches age&nbsp;60 in 2009.</p>
<p>If the insured has an insufficient number of points, a pension is paid with at least 15&nbsp;years of coverage (including 12&nbsp;years of actual service) at age&nbsp;65 (men and women).</p>
<p>Early pension: There is no early pension.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: The pension can be deferred. There is no maximum deferral period.</p>
<p>Benefits are payable abroad.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account:</span> Age&nbsp;63 (men) or age&nbsp;59 and 6&nbsp;months (women). The retirement age for women is increasing gradually by 6&nbsp;months each year up to age&nbsp;60 in 2009.</p>
<p>Early pension: An early pension is possible, depending on the insured's occupation.</p>
<p>Benefits are payable abroad under reciprocal agreement.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age social pension (income-tested):</span> Aged&nbsp;70 or older.</p>
<h4>Disability pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Disability pension (social insurance):</span> There is no minimum qualifying period for individuals younger than age&nbsp;20 or for persons assessed as blind; 1&nbsp;year for those aged&nbsp;25 to 29; 3&nbsp;years for those aged&nbsp;30; or 5&nbsp;years for those older than age&nbsp;30.</p>
<p>Ministry of Health Medical Expert Commissions are responsible for assessing the degree of loss of working capacity.</p>
<p>Benefits are payable abroad.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account (disability pension):</span> No benefits are provided.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability social pension (income-tested):</span> Aged&nbsp;16 or older with an assessed loss of working capacity greater than 71%.</p>
<p>Ministry of Health Medical Expert Commissions are responsible for assessing the degree of loss of working capacity.</p>
<h4>Survivor pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor pension (social insurance):</span> Paid for children up to age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;26 if a student or in military service, no limit if disabled), a surviving spouse within 5&nbsp;years of attaining the normal retirement age (earlier if disabled), and parents older than the normal retirement age who do not receive a pension in their own right. Parents of insured persons who died during military service are eligible regardless of age.</p>
<p>Benefits are payable abroad.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account (survivor pension):</span> No benefits are provided.</p>
<h3>Old-Age Benefits</h3>
<h4>Old-age pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Social insurance old-age pension:</span> The pension is equal to 1% of taxable income for each year of coverage. Taxable income for benefit calculation purposes is reduced proportionately for partial years of coverage.</p>
<p>The minimum old-age pension for pensioners with the required number of points at the normal retirement age is 102.85&nbsp;leva a month (October&nbsp;2007); pensioners without the required number of points receive 87.42&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: The minimum pension is set annually by government.</p>
<p>Early pension: There is no early pension.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: There is no maximum deferral period.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account:</span> Benefits are paid as a pension and are based on the accumulated capital in the individual account and life expectancy. Benefits are paid directly by the pension insurance company to the insured. (The insured does not buy an annuity.)</p>
<p><span class="h5">Old-age social pension (income-tested):</span> 76.23&nbsp;leva a month is paid.</p>
<p>Income test: The income ceiling for eligibility for the social pension is the guaranteed minimum monthly income (55&nbsp;leva) per family member in the last 12&nbsp;months.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<h4>Disability pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Disability pension (social insurance):</span> The pension is based on the number of years of contributions, taxable income, the age of the insured if younger than the normal retirement age, and the assessed loss of working capacity.</p>
<p>The minimum disability pension varies from 85% to 115% of the minimum old-age pension, according to the assessed loss of working capacity (from 87.42&nbsp;leva to 118.28&nbsp;leva a month).</p>
<p>The minimum old-age pension is 102.85&nbsp;leva a month (October&nbsp;2007).</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account (disability pension):</span> No benefits are provided.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability social pension (income-tested):</span> The pension is calculated as a percentage of the old-age social pension (76.23&nbsp;leva), according to the assessed loss of working capacity: 120% of the old-age social pension (91.48&nbsp;leva) is paid for a loss of working capacity greater than 90%; 110% of the old-age social pension (83.85&nbsp;leva) for a loss of working capacity of 71% to 90%.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<h4>Survivor pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Survivor pension (social insurance):</span> 50% of the deceased's pension is paid for one survivor; 75% for two survivors; 100% for three survivors or more. The pension is split equally among all eligible survivors. Full orphans receive the sum of the pensions of both deceased parents.</p>
<p>Survivor's supplement: 20% of the deceased's pension is paid.</p>
<p>The minimum pension for each survivor is equal to 75% of the minimum old-age pension.</p>
<p>The minimum old-age pension is 102.85&nbsp;leva a month (October&nbsp;2007).</p>
<p><span class="h5">Mandatory individual account (survivor pension):</span> No benefits are provided.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (<a href="https://www.mlsp.government.bg">http://www.mlsp.government.bg</a>) is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing state policy in social insurance and social assistance.</p>
<p>Managed by a tripartite supervisory board comprising representatives of the government, employers, and workers, the National Social Security Institute (<a href="https://www.nssi.bg">http://www.nssi.bg</a>) administers the social insurance system.</p>
<p>Financial Supervision Commission (http://www.fsc.bg) is responsible for the licensing and supervision of pension insurance companies and oversees the system of mandatory individual accounts.</p>
<p>National Revenue Agency (http://www.nra.bg) collects social security contributions and transfers the part of the contributions allocated to the mandatory individual accounts to the respective pension insurance companies.</p>
<h2>Sickness and Maternity</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1918.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current laws:</span> 1998 (health insurance); and 2000 (social insurance), with amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash sickness and maternity benefits:</span> Employees working for more than 5&nbsp;days or 40&nbsp;hours a month, including civil servants, judges, prosecutors, investigators, bailiffs, military personnel, members of cooperatives, paid public officials, and clergy.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for registered freelance professionals and artisans, sole proprietors, owners or partners in commercial companies, registered farmers, and working pensioners.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits:</span> All persons residing in Bulgaria.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<h4>Insured person</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> 1.4% of covered earnings.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> 2.4% of covered earnings.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 220&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<h4>Self-employed person</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> Voluntary contributions of 3.5% of declared covered earnings.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> 6% of declared covered earnings.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 240&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<h4>Employer</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Cash benefits:</span> 2.1% of payroll.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Medical benefits:</span> 3.6% of payroll.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> Any deficit; contributes as an employer.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Cash sickness and maternity benefits:</span> The insured must have 6&nbsp;months of coverage.</p>
<p>There is no qualifying period for an insured person younger than age&nbsp;18.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Medical benefits:</span> Must reside in Bulgaria.</p>
<h3>Sickness and Maternity Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Sickness benefit:</span> The benefit is equal to 80% of the insured's earnings and is paid for up to 90&nbsp;days. Benefits are also paid for the entire period of a temporary incapacity due to quarantine. Benefits may be paid for sanatorium treatment, depending on the health authority.</p>
<p>Earnings are based on the insured's average daily gross wage or average daily insured earnings in the 6&nbsp;calendar months before the incapacity began.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid for providing care to sick family members and accompanying them during medical treatment: for up to 10&nbsp;days for a family member older than age&nbsp;18; for up to 60&nbsp;days if the family member is younger than age&nbsp;18; for caring for a sick child up to age&nbsp;3 if the insured is hospitalized with the child; or to provide care to a family member for the duration of the quarantine period.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity benefit:</span> The benefit is equal to 90% of the insured's average daily covered earnings and is paid for a period of 135&nbsp;days, beginning 45&nbsp;days before the expected date of childbirth.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Child care benefit:</span> The benefit is 220&nbsp;leva and is paid until the child reaches age&nbsp;2.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Assistance to students:</span> Includes a lump sum paid during pregnancy and a lump sum paid after giving birth; a monthly allowance paid for a child until she or he leaves secondary education or up to age&nbsp;20; and a monthly allowance paid for child care for a child up to age&nbsp;1.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> Twice the minimum wage (440&nbsp;leva) is split equally among the surviving spouse, children, and parents.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Medical services are provided directly to patients according to a contract between medical institutions and the National Health Insurance Fund. Benefits include general and specialist care at health centers, outpatient departments of hospitals, or home; hospitalization; prescribed medicines; dental care; and necessary appliances.</p>
<h3>Dependents' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Medical services are provided directly to patients according to a contract between medical institutions and the National Health Insurance Fund. Benefits include general and specialist care at health centers, outpatient departments of hospitals, or home; hospitalization; prescribed medicines; dental care; and necessary appliances.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Managed by a tripartite supervisory board comprising representatives of the government, employers, and workers, the National Social Security Institute (<a href="https://www.nssi.bg">http://www.nssi.bg</a>) administers the social insurance system.</p>
<p>National Health Insurance Fund (<a href="http://www.nhif.bg">http://www.nhif.bg</a>) administers medical benefits.</p>
<h2>Work Injury</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1924.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 2000 (social insurance), with amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employees working for more than 5&nbsp;days or 40&nbsp;hours a month, including civil servants, judges, prosecutors, investigators, bailiffs, military personnel, members of cooperatives, paid public officials, and clergy.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for registered freelance professionals and artisans, sole entrepreneurs, owners or partners in commercial companies, registered farmers, and working pensioners.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Voluntary contributions only.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 0.4% to 1.1% of payroll, according to the assessed degree of risk.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None; contributes as an employer.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Work injury benefits:</span> There is no minimum qualifying period for benefits for a work injury or an occupational disease.</p>
<h3>Temporary Disability Benefits</h3>
<p>The benefit is equal to 90% of the insured's earnings and is paid from the first day of incapacity until recovery or certification of permanent disability.</p>
<p>Ministry of Health Medical Expert Commissions are responsible for assessing the degree of loss of working capacity.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Permanent disability pension:</span> The monthly pension is between 30% and 40% of the insured's earnings, according to the assessed loss of working capacity.</p>
<p>The minimum disability pension varies from 100% to 125% of the minimum old-age pension, according to the assessed loss of working capacity (from 102.85&nbsp;leva to 128.56&nbsp;leva a month).</p>
<p>The minimum old-age pension is 102.85&nbsp;leva a month (October&nbsp;2007).</p>
<p>Constant-attendance allowance: 75% of the old-age social pension is paid.</p>
<p>The old-age social pension is 76.23&nbsp;leva a month.</p>
<p>Ministry of Health Medical Expert Commissions are responsible for assessing the degree of loss of working capacity.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension:</span> One survivor receives 50% of the deceased's disability pension; two survivors receive a combined total of 75%; three survivors or more receive a combined total of 100%.</p>
<p>The minimum pension is equal to 75% of the minimum old-age pension.</p>
<p>The minimum old-age pension is 102.85&nbsp;leva a month (October&nbsp;2007).</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Managed by a tripartite supervisory board comprising representatives of the government, employers, and workers, the National Social Security Institute (<a href="https://www.nssi.bg">http://www.nssi.bg</a>) administers the social insurance system.</p>
<h2>Unemployment</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1925.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 2000 (social insurance), with 2002 amendment.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employed persons.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> 0.4% of covered earnings.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 0.6% of covered payroll.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are 2,000&nbsp;leva.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> None.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Unemployment benefits:</span> The insured must have at least 9&nbsp;months of coverage.</p>
<h3>Unemployment Benefits</h3>
<p>The benefit is equal to 60% of the insured's average earnings in the last 9&nbsp;months. The duration of benefit entitlement varies according to the length of the coverage period. The benefit is paid for up to 4&nbsp;months with 3&nbsp;years of coverage; for up to 12&nbsp;months with more than 25&nbsp;years of coverage.</p>
<p>The benefit is proportionately reduced for part-time workers.</p>
<p>If an eligible worker becomes unemployed within 3&nbsp;years of previous entitlement, the benefit is paid for a maximum of 4&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>The benefit may be combined with a disability pension and family benefits paid for a child younger than age&nbsp;18.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit is 100&nbsp;leva; may be less for a part-time worker.</p>
<p>For voluntarily unemployed persons and persons who are dismissed or who become eligible for unemployment benefits within 3&nbsp;years of previous entitlement, only the minimum benefit is paid.</p>
<p>The maximum benefit is 200&nbsp;leva.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Managed by a tripartite supervisory board comprising representatives of the government, employers, and workers, the National Social Security Institute (<a href="https://www.nssi.bg">http://www.nssi.bg</a>) administers the social insurance system.</p>
<p>National Employment Agency (<a href="https://www.az.government.bg">http://www.az.government.bg/eng/index_en.asp</a>), an executive agency of the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, implements policy on employment promotion.</p>
<h2>Family Allowances</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1942.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 2002 (family benefits).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social assistance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>All persons residing in Bulgaria.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> The total cost.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Family allowances:</span> The monthly income for each family member must not be greater than 200&nbsp;leva (except if the child is permanently disabled). The child must reside in Bulgaria, attend school (from age&nbsp;7 to age&nbsp;20), and not be in a specialized child care institution.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Child-rearing allowance:</span> The monthly income for each family member must not be greater than 200&nbsp;leva. The child must reside in Bulgaria and not be in a specialized child care institution. The allowance is paid until the child is age&nbsp;1 if the mother is not receiving maternity benefits; age&nbsp;2 if the child is disabled, regardless of any family income.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Birth grant:</span> Paid for each live birth regardless of family income.</p>
<h3>Family Allowance Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Family allowances:</span> Each child receives 30&nbsp;leva a month; for a disabled child, 100&nbsp;leva a month is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Child-rearing allowance:</span> 100&nbsp;leva a month is paid.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Birth grant:</span> 250&nbsp;leva is paid for the birth of the first child, 600&nbsp;leva for the second, and 200&nbsp;leva for the birth of each subsequent child. For the birth of a disabled child, an additional 100&nbsp;leva is paid.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Social Assistance Agency (<a href="https://www.mlsp.government.bg">http://www.mlsp.government.bg</a>) of the Ministry of Labor and Social Assistance administers the program.</p>
</div>
</article>
<nav>
<div class="docNav"><a class="previous" href="belgium.html">Previous: Belgium</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTop" href="#hLogo">Top of page</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTOC" href="index.html#fileList">Table of contents</a>&nbsp;<a class="next" href="croatia.html">Next: Croatia</a></div>
</nav>
<footer><div id="footer">
<div class="important-info"><h4>Important Information:</h4>
<ul><li><a href="/agency/">About Us</a></li>
<li><a href="/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li>
<li><a href="/foia/">FOIA</a></li>
<li><a href="/open/">Open Government</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/glossary/">Glossary</a></li>
<li><a href="/privacy/">Privacy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://oig.ssa.gov/report/">Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/websitepolicies.html">Website Policies</a></li></ul>
</div>
<p class="align-center margin-top">This website is produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense.</p>
</div></footer>
<!-- SSA INTERNET BODY SCRIPTS -->
<script src="/policy/js/rspa.doc.js"></script>
<script src="/policy/js/rspa-shared.js"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.body.js"></script>
</body></html>