Romania expands social welfare and pension benefits

In July 2026 Romania extended unemployment benefits to graduates as young as 16, widening the safety net for young workers entering the labour market. By early August 2026 the government highlighted the Venitul Minim de Incluziune (VMI) scheme, which provides a guaranteed minimum income for seniors aged 65 or older who lack a work history, offering up to 504 lei per month for individuals and additional support for families in need.

On 1 August 2026 a further reform was announced that overhauls the pension system. Disability pensions will automatically convert to age‑limit pensions at the statutory retirement age, with the Casa Teritorială de Pensii calculating the most advantageous amount, including contribution periods earned while on disability, and preserving companion allowances for first‑degree disability recipients. The VMI continues to cover seniors without prior contributions, with the same benefit levels. Retirees who wish to keep working may do so under a new individual contract that can be fixed‑term until age 70 and indefinite thereafter. A 2024 pension recalculation raised roughly 3.8 million pensions, though some cases saw no increase, underscoring ongoing efforts to broaden social protection across age groups.