Joller Opposes Increase in Benefits for Repressed Persons and Chernobyl Liquidators

Estonian Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller (Reform Party) has voiced her opposition to a bill aimed at increasing annual benefits for persons repressed under Soviet rule and liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The bill, submitted in June by the Social Democratic Party along with MPs Ester Karuse, Tanel Kiik, and Züleyha Izmailova, proposed raising the annual benefit from the current 292 euros to 350 euros as of January 1, 2027.

While the Ministry of Social Affairs acknowledges the importance of supporting these groups, Joller stated that the initiative cannot be supported in its current form due to financial constraints. The implementation would lead to additional permanent expenditures for the state budget, with the necessary funds not allocated in either the state budget or the state budget strategy. Furthermore, the explanatory memorandum does not identify a source for covering the extra costs.

The Ministry of Justice and Digital Technologies and the Ministry of Finance hold a similar stance. Both ministries believe that new permanent obligations should only be considered within the framework of the state budget strategy and budget preparation, not through separate bills without guaranteed funding. Consequently, the Ministry of Social Affairs has recommended that the government reject the bill as presented.

According to the bill's authors, the increase would require approximately 420,000 euros in additional annual funding. Total state spending on these benefits would rise to about 2.62 million euros per year.

Data from the Social Insurance Board shows that in 2025, 7,503 people received the annual benefit, including 7,065 repressed persons and 438 Chernobyl liquidators. The benefit is paid once a year on January 12.