In spite of a lawsuit initiated by the European Commission, Slovakia will not pay out Christmas bonuses to Slovak pensioners living abroad this year, either. The Social Affairs Ministry rejected the European Commission’s objection that Slovakia is putting its citizens residing abroad at a disadvantage.
It has said the Christmas contribution is not an old-age pension, therefore the state can set the rules of payment itself. Slovak recipients of old-age, disability, and other pensions are entitled to a Christmas bonus provided they have their residence in Slovakia and their pensions do not exceed €483. The State Social Insurance Company has estimated that it will pay out the bonuses to 1.12 million individuals, totalling over €68.5 million this year. The level of the bonus depends on the pension. The maximal contribution rose to €75 this year. It is not known how many Slovaks living abroad would have been entitled to the bonus.
