The opposition Socialist Party is calling on the government to advance pensioners their payments early so that as Easter approaches as few elderly as possible are in need of cash. Also, the Socialists propose that pensioners who get less than 100,000 forints (EUR 282) a month should receive a 20,000 forint one-off supplement, Lajos Kórozs, the head of parliament’s public welfare committee, told a news conference.
With inflation running high, there should be a pension hike of 6.5%, he said, adding that the supplement normally paid in November should be brought forward to April. Further, health and social workers should be given a 500,000 forint payment, he said. The Socialists are demanding a 32% reduction in gas prices and a 10% reduction in electricity and district heating prices, he said.