Bulgaria faces higher maternity benefits, budget costs and inflation

maternity benefit Budget 2026 inflation Nataliya Efrimova Asen Vasilev

The Bulgarian government is considering raising the maternity‑benefit rate for mothers who return to work early from the current 50% to around 75%, Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efrimova said. The proposal is part of a broader package aimed at supporting young families and addressing labor shortages.

Opposition leader and former finance minister Asen Vasilev warned that the 2026 state budget will force every Bulgarian, from newborns to pensioners, to pay roughly €400, of which about €300 is not clearly allocated. He criticised the lack of detailed spending breakdown and the projected increase in public debt.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute reported that annual inflation slowed to 5.4% in June, with a monthly deflation of 0.9%. Despite the slowdown, price pressures remain strong: services such as hotels, restaurants and accommodation have risen 20%‑30% over the past two and a half years, and many personal‑service sectors (hairdressers, repairs, training) have seen price hikes of around 20%. Average wages grew by about 13% in the first quarter of 2026, which the institute says helps offset the accumulated inflation of the previous three years.

Entities: Asen Vasilev · Bulgarian Government · Nataliya Efrimova · National Statistical Institute

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately €300 of the €400 per‑person cost in the 2026 budget is not clearly explained. (Asen Vasilev)
[● 3 SOURCES] Opposition leader Asen Vasilev says each Bulgarian will pay about €400 because of the 2026 budget. (Asen Vasilev)
[● 4 SOURCES] Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate in June 2023 was 5.4% and monthly inflation was –0.9%. (National Statistical Institute)
[● 3 SOURCES] Current maternity benefit for mothers returning early is 50% of the entitlement. (Nataliya Efrimova)
[● 4 SOURCES] Prices for hotels, restaurants and accommodation services in Bulgaria have risen between 20% and 30% over the past two and a half years. (National Statistical Institute)
[● 4 SOURCES] Prices for services such as hairdressers, personal care, repairs and training have increased by about 20% annually in Bulgaria. (National Statistical Institute)
[● 4 SOURCES] Average wages in Bulgaria grew by about 13% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. (National Statistical Institute)
[● 3 SOURCES] The Bulgarian government plans to increase the maternity‑benefit rate for mothers returning to work early to about 75%, up from the current 50%. (Nataliya Efrimova)