Why should the 13th Pension become a reality for the elderly in Albania?

At a time when life is becoming increasingly expensive and demands for spending are higher, especially during the year-end holidays or summer months, many pensioners feel the heavy burden of the lack of additional income.
From paying for medicines, to helping children and grandchildren, to buying the most basic necessities, everything weighs on a pension that often barely suffices to get through the month.

In many European countries, this recognition of the economic difficulties faced by pensioners has become a real right: the 13th pension, an additional payment that helps the elderly face daily life with more dignity.

What is the 13th pension?

It is not a reward for the government, nor a favor to be given only before elections.
The 13th pension is a special annual payment, usually equal (in most cases) to a monthly pension, given regularly—typically in December—as support to better cope with seasonal expenses.

In some countries like Austria, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, even a 14th pension is given.

This payment does not depend on the temporary will of the government but is part of the law, guaranteed by the social security system and medium-term budget planning.

Why is it necessary for Albania?

Albania today faces population aging faster than ever before. More elderly people, fewer young contributors to the system, and longer life expectancy are facts that require restructuring of the pension system—not only financially but also in its human and social content.

Today, many pensioners await with hope a one-time help in December, which is announced without prior warning and given only to some categories.
But this causes uncertainty because it is not a right for all and does not allow them to plan as they deserve.

This model is expected to change.

What do other European countries do?

Throughout Europe, the right to an additional annual benefit, such as the 13th or even the 14th pension, has been institutionalized as an integral part of social policies, aiming not only to compensate the elderly economically but also to recognize their historic contribution to building the state and society. These measures are no longer symbolic rewards but standards of welfare, supported by law and budget planning.

Austria, a model of sustainable social solidarity

Austria, one of the countries with the most advanced social protection systems in Europe, guarantees not one but two additional annual payments for every pensioner: the 13th and 14th pensions. These are given respectively in June and December, integrated as a full part of the social security scheme. They are guaranteed by law and do not depend on temporary political decisions. This approach ensures economic stability, eases seasonal expenses, and is evidence of a dignified approach to old age.

Spain and Italy, the tradition of automatic payment

In Spain and Italy, the 13th pension is given automatically and is equal to a monthly pension. In Italy, this payment is usually distributed in December and is directly linked to coping with the seasonal price increases, especially during the year-end holidays. In Spain, this payment is integrated into the social security system and applied regularly and comprehensively.

Portugal, targeted aid for elderly with low income

In Portugal, the 13th pension is given in December and is particularly valuable for pensioners with low incomes. This benefit is reinforced by additional policies aimed at reducing poverty among the elderly and improving living standards in a country where inequalities have historically been marked. Portugal, as a country with a difficult economic past, has seen this payment not as a luxury but as a tool of social justice.

Greece, stability even after the crisis

Greece, despite the severe impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures over the last decade, maintained a form of additional payment for pensioners in need. Although the scheme is more selective, maintaining this support shows a clear commitment not to abandon the elderly during the toughest economic times.

What about the Western Balkans? Growing trend toward institutionalization

Even in the Western Balkans region, various attempts are observed to recognize the right to additional benefits for pensioners, although implementation is often fragmented and dependent on short-term political decisions.

Serbia has occasionally offered one-time payments to pensioners, especially to cope with inflation or stimulate consumption. However, these are not institutionalized as a 13th pension. In recent years, there have been discussions about making this policy regular, but a stable legal basis is still missing.

Montenegro has provided temporary support to pensioners, especially in times of crisis, but has not codified a mandatory additional payment in law. However, public discourse has increased demands to strengthen the social system for the elderly.

In North Macedonia, financial aid for pensioners is mainly announced for holidays and is limited to specific groups. Still, pensioners’ unions and civil society organizations have started calling for more equal and sustainable treatment.

With a highly fragmented system due to its federal structure, Bosnia does not have a unified 13th pension scheme. Some cantons have provided special aid, but a comprehensive national policy is lacking.

In Kosovo, aid for pensioners is limited and dependent on the annual budget. There is no guaranteed additional payment, but recently pressure has increased from interest groups to establish a policy similar to that of EU countries.

Lesson for Albania

In all these countries, whether economies are consolidated like Austria or Portugal, or developing like Bosnia and Kosovo, there is a clear growing trend to place the dignity of the elderly at the center of public policies. These practices clearly show that institutionalizing the 13th pension is not a luxury but a human and social necessity.

Albania needs not only to follow the example of these countries but to build its own model, sustainable and fair, that places the treatment of the elderly at the heart of social protection architecture. This is not just a budgetary decision; it is a moral choice for a more equal and caring society.

What should Albania do?

It is no longer enough for the 13th pension to be given as a “holiday gift” or sporadic aid that depends on the will of the current government. This approach despises the daily reality of pensioners and treats their welfare as a favor, not a right earned. Albania must take a clear and sustainable step to institutionalize the 13th pension, making it an integral part of the social protection architecture.

In an analysis by ALTAX on the feasibility of reforming the pension scheme, it is concluded that five measures need to be fulfilled for this commitment to be implemented.

First, legislative framing of the payment. The 13th pension must be included as a regular and guaranteed benefit in the social security law. It cannot remain subject to ad hoc practices. Thus, every pensioner, regardless of income level or residence, will know they have a clear right protected by law.

Second, automation of implementation. The payment must be executed automatically every year in December as part of the national pension scheme. This avoids arbitrariness and gives pensioners peace of mind to plan their expenses, especially during festive periods when needs increase.

Third, planned and sustainable financing. The additional payment must be included as a dedicated item in the medium-term budget framework, with secure and uninterrupted sources. Inclusion in the State Medium-Term Budget guarantees this measure is neither accidental nor politically contestable but a well-thought-out and planned public policy.

Fourth, implementation of the principle of universality. Dividing pensioners into “poorer” and “less poor” to determine beneficiaries of a basic right is pure injustice. All contributors to the pension scheme deserve to be treated with equality and dignity. Therefore, the 13th pension must be a universal benefit, belonging to every pensioner—without unfair exclusions.Fifth, we need dignity and social well-being. This is not just a financial move. The 13th pension is an expression of institutional respect for the generation that built Albania. It strengthens the sense of social inclusion, helps fight isolation and significantly reduces the pressure on families caring for the elderly. Albania should treat pensioners not as a passive category waiting for help, but as a pillar of society that has the right to live with security, dignity and economic peace.