Pensioner purchasing power: interest group proposes cash instead of vouchers

According to the Government’s decision, pensioners will receive food vouchers worth 30,000 forints in autumn 2025 – the aim is to reduce poverty and ease the burden caused by high food prices. The National Association of Pensioners’ Parliament reacted to the measure in a statement: while they welcomed the support, they criticized the implementation on several points.

According to the interest group, it would be much more reasonable and cost-effective if the Hungarian State Treasury simply transferred the amount together with the next month’s pensions. “We consider the printing, sorting, packaging and delivery of special vouchers unjustified – this is not only wasteful, but also complicated,” the statement says.

The organization also complains that the amount awarded falls short of the 10,000-15,000 forints per month mentioned in the Prime Minister’s previous statement, thus providing less help to pensioner households than previously hoped. In addition, they believe it would have been fairer if the vouchers were distributed differentially – meaning that those with lower pensions would receive a larger amount of support and those with higher pensions a smaller amount.

The Pensioners’ Parliament proposes that the value of undeliverable (approx. 10%) or unused (approx. 7-8%) vouchers be transferred to those receiving the lowest benefits by mid-December as a Christmas gift.

According to the statement, pensioners generally view the measure as a positive step, but they consider it important that the forms of support be simple, targeted and fair – especially given the current rising food prices.