Background information

On 15 May 2020, the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Lump-Sum Benefits for Recipients of Social Insurance Pensions and Social Assistance Benefits (No XIII-2886) came into force, providing for the payment of a lump-sum benefit of €200 to elderly people, disabled people, survivors and orphans. As the elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups in the country, the aim is to reduce at least partially the possible negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group in Lithuania

Content of measure

The Law provides that a lump sum of €200 will be paid to the residents of the Republic of Lithuania, who have declared their place of residence or are entered in the records of the persons who have not declared their place of residence in the procedure established in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Declaration of the Place of Residence (No XIII-961), receiving any of the pensions below:

• social insurance old-age pension (early old-age pension, old-age pension for disabled persons);
• social insurance work incapacity (disability) pension;
• social insurance survivors’ pension;
• social insurance orphans’ pension;
• loss of breadwinner’s pension;
• social assistance old-age pension;
• retirement pension;
• compensation for special working conditions;
• social assistance disability pension;
• other pensions.

The lump sum will be paid to all entitled persons without individual request in August 2020.

Use of measure

According to the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the lump-sum benefits will be paid to some 910,000 residents of the country and will require approx. €182 million of funds.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Older citizens Disabled

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners (SPs) were consulted only ad hoc, the tripartite meeting was not held. On 24 April 2020, the Advisory Group for Post-Quarantine Social Issues under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour started its work in Lithuania, discussing measures to reduce social effects during the post-quarantine period in Lithuania. SPs were also invited to participate in the group

Views and reactions

The social partners welcomed the measure. According to the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LTUC), not only business needs support, but also people who have lost their jobs due to quarantine, people with disabilities, seniors, families with children. However, the chair of the LTUC emphasised that more help is needed for working people as well. Although the Government takes into account the requirements of trade unions, it would be appropriate to further strengthen the package of measures for those in employment.

Sources

• 09 April 2020: LTUC supports the position and proposals of NGOs and scientists.(LPSK palaiko NVO ir mokslininkų poziciją ir pasiūlymus) (www.lpsk.lt)
• 30 April 2020: Why should we give more money to rich pensioners than to workers? (Kodėl turtingiems pensininkams turime duoti daugiau pinigų nei darbuotojams) (www.tv3.lt)
• 07 May 2020: Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Lump-Sum Benefits for Recipients of Social Insurance Pensions and Social Assistance Benefits (LR vienkartinės išmokos socialinio draudimo pensijų ir šalpos išmokų gavėjams įstatymas) (e-seimas.lrs.lt)