Background information

In order to help the most vulnerable population groups cope with the negative impact of the increase in energy prices and general inflation, the government decided on an additional state benefit for 7 months. The assistance package is included in the amendments to the law On measures to reduce the extraordinary increase in energy prices, adopted by the Parliament (Saeima) on 11 August 2022 as a matter of urgency. The amendments came into force on 13 August 2022.

Content of measure

From 1 November 2022 to 31 May 2023, the state allowance will be paid to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and persons who have lost their breadwinners. They will have a different amount depending on the pension income:

• €30 per month, if the amount of pension, compensation or state social security benefit does not exceed €300 per month;
• €20 per month, if the amount of pension, compensation or state social security benefit is between €301 and €509 per month;
• €10 per month, if the amount of pension, compensation or state social security benefit is between €510 and €603;
• €30 per month for a person who receives a supplement to the state family allowance for a child with a disability; for a person with a refugee or alternative status who has reached retirement age or has a certain disability and has not reached old-age pension age.

Benefits will be paid by the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA). To persons who receive any of the services administered by VSAA, the benefit will be paid without a special application.

Use of measure

It is expected that 505,000 persons will receive the benefit. The preliminary funding required for the benefit package is €23,088,181 in 2022 and €59,891,749 in 2023.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Disabled Other groups of citizens Pensioners

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	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

No specific views to report.

Sources

• 12 August 2022: Support for households for partial compensation of heating season expenses is enshrined in law (lvportals.lv)
• 01 September 2022: Law on measures to reduce the extraordinary increase in energy resource prices (likumi.lv)