Budget, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation

According to the court ruling, the provisions of the Cabinet of Ministers regulation of December 22, 2009, insofar as they determine the amount of the state social security benefit for unemployed persons with disabilities and seniors, are inconsistent with several articles of the Constitution and therefore will be invalidated as of January 1, 2021.

The Constitutional Court's judgment is final and cannot be appealed.

According to the contested provisions of the Cabinet regulation, the amount of the state social security benefit for persons disabled since childhood is EUR 122.69 per month, for other persons with disabilities - EUR 80, and for senior residents - EUR 64.03 per month.

Ombudsman Juris Jansons earlier informed the Constitutional Court that most recipients of the state social security benefits were persons with disabilities who required a wider range of healthcare services.

In turn, the defendants emphasized that the contested benefit was as an additional support measure and not basic income to the recipients. They also emphasized other social services provided by the state.

The Constitutional Court opened the case after receiving Jansons' petition, which claimed that the amount of the state social security benefit was not sufficient to provide for the basic needs of the recipients - healthy food, clothing, housing, healthcare and compulsory education.