Experts from the territorial division of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) in Sofia-city visited four nursing homes located in the capital. Teams of the institution met with residents of the homes in the neighborhoods of Zone B-5, Ilinden, Darvenitsa and Gorna Banya. The reason for their visit was the upcoming entry of Bulgaria into the eurozone on January 1, 2026 and the subsequent changes in the payment of all types of pensions and benefits granted by the state social security.

As part of the NSSI’s national information campaign for the introduction of the euro, NSSI representatives met with the elderly and answered their questions about the changes in the payment of pensions after our country’s transition to the single European currency. The expert team informed them about the procedure and method of converting pensions and the opportunities to receive preliminary information about the amount of their pensions in euros from the beginning of next year. The NSSI employees assured them that upon the introduction of the euro, there will be no need to submit any applications to the National Social Security Institute. Their pensions will be officially recalculated at the fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 leva per 1 euro, with the rounding being entirely in favor of the pensioners.

In addition to the topic of the introduction of the euro, the elderly also received answers to all their questions related to the pension process. An information campaign for the introduction of the euro by the National Social Security Institute is being conducted throughout the country, with the main emphasis on social services for the elderly – nursing homes, day care centers for the elderly, family-type accommodation centers for the elderly, etc. All 28 territorial divisions in the country are involved in the campaign, which, with the assistance of local authorities, will try to reach the residents of smaller settlements as well.

The NSSI management has set a goal for the experts to meet with the largest possible circle of interested parties. The focus of the materials provided and the meetings held is on explaining the entire procedure for converting social security payments and preventing opportunities for abuse of people’s trust.