Cabinet approves 2026 Easter allowance for low-income pensioners

The Council of Ministers has approved a proposal by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare to grant an Easter allowance for 2026 to eligible low-income pensioners. The benefit amount is set at €250, utilizing the same eligibility criteria applied in 2024 and 2025. Beneficiaries must have an annual income not exceeding €7,000 for single-person households and €12,000 for two-person households. The income thresholds will be adjusted based on the specific composition of the household in accordance with current scales. Notably, the deposit criterion of €30,000 will not be applied for the 2026 benefit cycle. The initiative is expected to cover approximately 10,050 recipients. The total expenditure for this measure is estimated at €2,512,500. This grant is part of the government's ongoing policy to support vulnerable groups during the Easter holiday period.