Some social security benefits will rise in 2013

In 2013, social security pensions and benefits for disability resulting from labor accidents will be indexed by 8.05%, as provided by the draft 2013 Social Security Budget, recently approved by the Government. Lump-sum payments at child birth will increase by 300 lei to 2,600 lei for the first child and to 2,900 lei for each subsequent child. Survivor benefits will rise by 200 lei to 1,200 and disability caregiver benefits will increase by 100 lei to 400 lei. Labor and Social Protection Minister Valentina Buliga said that in 2013 the state will also increase the coefficient that is used to calculate eligibility for heating assistance payouts. Eligible for such payouts will be the households whose monthly income per member is below the minimum guaranteed income of 1,024 lei and multiplied by 1.6, as compared to the current coefficient of 1.4. The 200 lei payouts will be provided for the five months of the cold season. Another provision standing out in the 2013 Social Security Budget is that employers will be required to cover up to five days of sick leaves. The rate of social security contributions deducted from salaries and other forms of remuneration will remain at 29%, split at 23% and 6% between the employer and the employee. In the agricultural sector, a 22% rate will be applied, 6 pp of which will be subsidized by the State Budget. Self-employed persons, including founders of companies, notaries and court enforcement officers, will pay a fixed amount of 5,220 lei in social security contributions. Self-employed farmers will pay 1,296 lei. The 2013 Social Security Budget provides for incomes of 10.5 billion lei and expenses of 10.6 billion lei.