Retired Romanians living on borrowed time: unindexed pensions leave them without money for medication and bills

Romanian Pensioners Caught Between Inflation and Austerity

Millions of elderly people in Romania are facing an increasingly acute financial crisis, following the government's implementation of austerity measures that have directly affected pensioners. The main issue highlighted is the failure to index pensions in line with the inflation rate for two consecutive years, which has led to a real and significant loss of purchasing power amongst older people.

What This Loss Means in Practice for a Pensioner

Each month, pensioners receive the same nominal amount, whilst prices for food, medicines, and utilities have risen considerably. For many elderly people, the gap between fixed incomes and rising expenses translates into accumulated debt or being forced to forgo essential necessities such as medical treatment or adequate nutrition.

Desperate Calls to National Television Channels

The situation has become so serious that elderly people from across the country have been calling in live to television channels to express their desperation. Their stories paint a stark picture: older people choosing between medicines and food, borrowing money from their children or neighbours to pay bills, or giving up heating in order to cover other expenses.

A Worrying Phenomenon at National Level

Experts and social protection organisations are warning that this situation is not isolated, but rather reflects a worrying trend at national level. Small and medium pensions, which account for the majority, are the most severely affected, as the proportion of basic expenses within these people's monthly budgets is overwhelming.

What the Authorities Should Do

Representatives of civil society and pensioners' organisations are calling on the authorities to resume the indexation of pensions in line with the inflation rate, so that the incomes of elderly people are no longer eroded in real time. Additional support measures are also being sought for the most vulnerable groups, including better coverage of medication and utility costs for low-income pensioners.