New rules slash 13th pensions for retirees without long Slovak work history

The parliament has passed new legislation to reduce the so-called “13th pensions” for recipients who worked only a few years in Slovakia, an amendment approved by coalition MPs on November 5.

Under the revised scheme, only pensioners with at least 10 years of work experience in Slovakia will receive the full 13th pension payment. Those with fewer years will see their benefit prorated, receiving one-tenth of the sum for each year of employment in Slovakia.

This year, the supplementary pension stands at €606.30. Under the new rules, a retiree with just one year of employment in Slovakia would receive approximately €60.

The ruling coalition raised the 13th pension last year after coming to power, though it later became apparent that full eligibility extended not only to Slovak nationals but also to foreigners who had spent most of their working years abroad.

Former labour minister Jozef Mihál illustrated the issue before the amendment was passed: “Imagine a Serbian who worked one year in Slovakia a decade ago. They are now retired and receive a small Slovak pension, perhaps €20, but would qualify for the full 13th pension at €606.”

However, for a Slovak who has worked most or all of their life in Slovakia to receive both a regular retirement pension and the 13th pension, they must have paid social contributions for at least 15 years.

Slovak citizenship is not required for a pension under Slovak social insurance law. Thanks to European regulations, foreign workers with a Slovak employment history are eligible for pensions even without permanent residence in Slovakia, a provision in place since 2004.

As of September 2024, the Slovak Social Insurance Agency (Sociálna poisťovňa) paid out 37,625 pensions abroad, writes Denník N.