Croatian pensioners should receive an annual pension supplement this year in the amount of 7 euros per year of pensionable service.

That is 1 euro more than last year, but less than the 8 euros that had been unofficially mentioned in recent weeks.

The new calculation was presented by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during the presentation of the annual report on the work of the Government in the Croatian Parliament on October 13, and the data were published on the official website of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

According to the Prime Minister's announcement, the average annual supplement will amount to 208 euros per pensioner, and the state plans to allocate 258 million euros for its payment. The Government must make the final decision on the value of the supplement no later than October 31, while payment is scheduled for December.

How much will pensioners receive according to years of service?

The amount of the supplement depends on the number of full years of pensionable service on the basis of which the pension was determined. If the Government confirms the announced 7 euros, a pensioner with 20 years of service will receive 140 euros, while one with 25 years will receive 175 euros.

For 30 years of service, the supplement will amount to 210 euros, and for 35 years 245 euros. Pensioners with 40 years of recognized service can expect 280 euros.

Last year, the value of one year of service amounted to 6 euros. This means that a person with 40 years of service will receive 40 euros more this year than last year, when they were paid 240 euros.

It is important to emphasize that the term 13th pension does not mean the payment of another full monthly pension. It is a separate annual supplement whose amount is calculated according to pensionable service, and not according to the monthly amount of the pension.

8 euros was mentioned, unions demanded significantly more

As early as the beginning of October, there was unofficial talk about the possibility of increasing the supplement to 8 euros per year of service. However, even that amount did not satisfy pensioners' representatives.

The president of the Croatian Pensioners' Union (SUH), Višnja Stanišić, previously warned that even 8 euros would be humiliating, believing that the supplement must be significantly higher. The union requested approximately 12 to 13 euros per year of service, while Matica umirovljenika Hrvatske advocated for 10 euros.

After the Prime Minister's announcement, Stanišić expressed renewed dissatisfaction. She told the Moje Vrijeme portal that she feels humiliated and belittled and said that she had expected at least 8 euros, although she would still consider that amount insufficient given the rising cost of living.

Pensioner with 40 years of service: 'I expected at least 12 euros'

Dissatisfaction with the announced amount is also not hidden by a pensioner who turns 69 this year and has 40 years of work experience behind her. According to the new calculation, she should receive 280 euros in annual supplement, or only 40 euros more than last year.

'It is shameful that prices have skyrocketed, and they increased the supplement by only 1 euro per year of service. I expected at least 12 euros. I am not saying that even that would be enough, but it would at least be more decent. I have the feeling that we pensioners are their last concern,' says the pensioner who wished to remain anonymous.

If the amount of 12 euros per year of service had been accepted, she would have received 480 euros, or 200 euros more than the announced amount.

Payment in December, without submitting an application

The annual supplement was introduced by the Pension Insurance Act in 2025 as a permanent right of pension beneficiaries. It is paid once a year, and each year the Government determines how much one year of pensionable service is worth.

According to the rules of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, beneficiaries do not have to submit a special application. The supplement is paid automatically, is not subject to taxation, and is exempt from enforcement.