The average pension in Bulgaria was €558.08 in September, up €40.70, or 7.9%, from September 2025, the National Social Security Institute (NOI) said.
Bulgaria has 2,067,912 pensioners, 8,254 more than a year earlier, a rise of 0.4%.
On Monday, the NOI supervisory board backed the draft 2027 budget of the state public social security fund (DOO). Pensions are expected to rise next year under the so-called Swiss rule.
By the end of September, the DOO had taken in €6,203.8m in revenue, or 72.8% of the full-year plan. That is €544.5m (9.6%) more than in the same period of 2025.
Spending came to €11,214.1m, or 73.5% of the annual plan, and was €958.8m (9.3%) higher than a year earlier. Most of the money goes on pensions: €9,962.2m, or 73.8% of the plan. Pension spending is up €869.6m (9.6%).
The DOO paid €1,178.9m in cash benefits and aid under the Social Insurance Code, up €88.6m (8.1%). Net transfers were €5,017.9m.
The teachers' pension fund took in €60.7m, or 74.2% of its annual plan, which is €5.7m more than in September 2025. It spent €52.3m, or 70.7% of the plan, which is €7.5m more than a year earlier.
The Guaranteed Claims of Workers and Employees fund collected €1,708.4k, or 86.8% of its annual plan, which is €290.6k more than a year earlier. It spent €854.3k, which is €248.0k less than in the same period of 2025.