Latvia to raise housing benefit for low-income households from 1 November
From 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, Latvia will raise the coefficients used to calculate housing benefit. This will increase support for some recipients and widen the group of households that can apply.
Latvia will increase its housing benefit for low-income households from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. The benefit is meant to help cover heating and other housing costs. The change stems from amendments to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance, which the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, adopted in the final reading on 24 September.
According to the Saeima's website, the decision takes into account forecast increases in heating costs in some localities and the need to ease the financial burden of the heating season on low-income residents.
New coefficients
The coefficients are applied to the sum of guaranteed minimum income thresholds when the benefit is calculated. They will change as follows:
- a pensioner or person with a disability living alone: 2.5 (previously 2.1);
- households made up only of pensioners or people with disabilities: 2 (previously 1.7);
- households with children under 18 or young people under 24 who are continuing their studies: 2;
- all other eligible households: 1.7 (previously 1.3).
The Ministry of Welfare stresses that this does not mean automatic support for everyone with a small income: each household's entitlement will still be assessed individually.
Forecasts and procedure
The ministry projects that the average benefit per person per month will rise from €149.19 to €174.11, an increase of €24.92. The average monthly number of recipients is expected to grow from 35,377 to 37,610. These are nationwide forecasts, not a guaranteed amount for each person; the actual sum will depend on household income, composition and housing costs.
For current recipients, the municipal social service will recalculate the benefit automatically, without a new application. People who do not receive the benefit but have low incomes and difficulty paying housing costs should contact their municipality's social service.
The state has provided municipalities with an additional earmarked grant equal to 20 percent of the benefit paid, bringing total state support to 50 percent. The impact on the state budget is forecast at €8.7 million, of which €8.1 million is intended to compensate municipalities for benefit expenses.
