The second instalment of the pensioners' support payment, in December 2026: who receives money without applying

Pensioners whose combined monthly income does not exceed 3,000 RON will receive the second instalment of the state financial aid in December 2026. The payment, ranging between 300 and 500 RON, is made automatically, with no application required. The first instalment was paid in May 2026, and eligibility for the second is assessed on the basis of November income.

Who is entitled to this support

The measure is established under Emergency Ordinance No. 23/2026 and applies to pensioners in the public pension system, as well as those in the state military pension system, registered with territorial or sectoral pension houses. The key condition is that combined monthly income must not exceed 3,000 RON.

The total amount received in a year depends on income level: those receiving up to 1,500 RON inclusive will receive 1,000 RON per year, those with income between 1,501 and 2,000 RON will receive 800 RON, and those in the 2,001–3,000 RON bracket will receive 600 RON. Under the law, the payments are made "in two equal instalments, in May 2026 and December 2026 respectively".

Amounts paid in December

For the second instalment, pensioners with income of up to 1,500 RON will receive 500 RON. Those with income between 1,501 and 2,000 RON will receive 400 RON, whilst those with income between 2,001 and 3,000 RON will receive 300 RON.

Payment is made automatically by the territorial and sectoral pension houses, with no requirement for beneficiaries to submit applications or documents. The funds come from the state budget, channelled through the budgets of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Romanian Intelligence Service.

How the qualifying income is calculated

For individuals receiving pensions from multiple sources, income from the public system, state military pensions, and the social allowance for pensioners granted under Emergency Ordinance No. 6/2009 are all added together.

For the May instalment, income from April 2026 was taken into account. For the December instalment, income from November 2026 is assessed, with each beneficiary's situation being re-evaluated to determine which of the three income thresholds they fall into.

If in April or November 2026 a pensioner receives arrears relating to earlier periods, these amounts are not counted when determining the income threshold.

In the case of a survivor's pension, the aid is granted separately to each survivor, based on their own income and the thresholds set out in Emergency Ordinance No. 23/2026. The full amount is paid even if the entitlements for the reference month cover only a fraction of the month — a rule that applies to both 2026 instalments.

Who will not receive the second instalment

The aid is intended exclusively for individuals registered with territorial or sectoral pension houses who are domiciled in Romania. Those whose place of residence or habitual residence is abroad are not entitled to this payment.

Furthermore, if combined income in November exceeds the 3,000 RON threshold, the pensioner in question will not receive the December instalment, even if they received the first instalment in May. Eligibility is assessed separately for each payment stage.