The State Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) informs about the payment of pensions and allowances after 1 September 2023 in accordance with the amendments to the Immigration Law.
The amendments apply to citizens of the Russian Federation (RF) who were previously citizens or non-citizens of the Republic of Latvia and who, in order to continue their permanent residence in the Republic of Latvia after 1 September 2023, are required to acquire the status of a permanent resident of the European Union (EU).
The SSIA will continue to pay the Latvian pensions, allowances and benefits to those citizens of the RF who, before 1 September:
- have submitted an application to the OCMA and the necessary documents, including proof of successful completion of the State language examination to obtain permanent resident status of the EU,
- have taken the state language examination but have failed the exam, and the person has been set a time for a repeated State language examination.
For example: The Latvian old-age pension recipient has submitted an application for permanent resident status of the EU to the OCMA by 1 September and received a document from the OCMA stating that his/her application will be examined by 1 March 2024. The SSIA will continue to pay the pension until the OCMA decides to grant or refuse the person's permanent resident status of the EU.
! The SSIA will provide the payment on the basis of the information provided by the OCMA.
The SSIA will cease to pay Latvian pensions, allowances and benefits to those citizens of the RF who have lost their legal status in the Republic of Latvia as of 2 September 2023.
The payment of pensions, allowances and national social security allowance (except State social security benefit and childcare benefit) will be suspended by the SSIA as from October, i.e. as from the next payment month following the month in which the person lost legal status in the Republic of Latvia.
For example: The Latvian old-age pension recipient has not submitted an application for the permanent resident status of the EU to the OCMA by 1 September. On 20 September 2023, the SSIA receives information from the OCMA that the previous permanent residence permit is no longer valid as of 2 September 2023 and the person no longer has the legal right to reside in the Republic of Latvia. Pension payments will cease on 1 October 2023.
The national social security allowances and childcare benefits paid for the previous month will cease to be paid by the SSIA as of 2 September 2023, i.e. the day on which the person's permanent residence permit is no longer valid in the Republic of Latvia.
For example: The person receives a State social security benefit for persons with disabilities and a State family allowance. The benefit recipient has not submitted an application for permanent resident status of the EU to the OCMA by 1 September. On 20 September 2023, the SSIA receives
information from the OCMA that the previous permanent residence permit is no longer valid as of 2 September 2023 and the person no longer has the legal right to reside in the Republic of Latvia. The SSIA stops paying the national social security allowance from 2 September 2023 and the State family allowance from 1 October 2023, as the allowance for September has already been paid.
The SSIA will also suspend the payment of State social insurance benefits (sickness benefit, maternity benefit, unemployment benefit) in cases where the conditions for receiving the benefit are not fulfilled due to a change in the actual circumstances affecting the right to receive the benefit.
For example: If the SSIA receives information from the State Employment Agency that a person who has been granted unemployment benefit has lost the status of an unemployed person as of 2 September 2023 because the person does not have a valid permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia, the SSIA will suspend payment of unemployment benefit as of the date of loss of the status of an unemployed person, i.e., as of 2 September 2023.
The SSIA will resume the payment if information is received from the OCMA that the citizen of the RF has submitted an application for a new permanent residence permit or a permit to reside in the Republic of Latvia.
Pensions and benefits will also be paid if the citizen of the RF has obtained a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Latvia.
However, State social benefits will be paid by the SSIA to persons with temporary residence permits only in accordance with the agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation regarding cooperation within the field of social security.
Pension and benefit recipients who move to live outside the Republic of Latvia
If a pension recipient moves to the Russian Federation, Ukraine or Republic of Belarus after the expiry of his/her residence permit or after losing legal status in the Republic of Latvia, the pension recipient must apply to the competent institution of the respective country and request payment of the Latvian pension in that country. After the SSIA receives the request from the competent institution of the respective country, the SSIA will continue to pay the Latvian pension to the person through the competent institution.
Even if the pension or allowance recipient leaves for residence in other countries, it is possible to continue receiving the Latvian pension or allowance in accordance with the procedure laid down by law. Before leaving, it is advisable to check with the SSIA what the conditions are for the payment of pensions in the new country of residence.
When moving to a country outside the European Economic Area, the supplement to the pension for the insurance period up to 31 December 1995, if any, will cease to be paid.
If a person leaves the Republic of Latvia to take up residence in another country, the payment of State social benefits shall cease.
In case of any doubts, please contact the SSIA at konsultacijas@vsaa.gov.lv or 64507020.