New pension recalculation rules in Latvia: automatic in April or in a month of your choice
Latvia's State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) now recalculates pensions of working pensioners automatically every April. A different month can be chosen by applying at least two months in advance.
Under amendments to Latvia's law "On State Pensions", working pensioners' pensions are now recalculated automatically, and an application is no longer required. The amendments took effect on 1 January 2025, and the first automatic recalculation was carried out on 1 April 2026. It is handled by the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA), which administers state pensions and social contribution records.
Who is eligible
The automatic recalculation covers recipients of old-age, group 1 or 2 disability and long-service pensions (except institutional long-service pensions). Requirements: at least 12 months have passed since the pension was granted or last recalculated, and social insurance contributions were paid in at least one month of that period. The supplement for length of service is not recalculated. Opting out is not possible, as the law does not provide for it.
More than 140,000 people received the recalculation in April, including those who worked 10 or 20 years ago but had never requested one. Those not yet entitled on 1 April will be recalculated on 1 April 2027.
Choosing another date
Pensioners may choose a different month by submitting an application at least two months before the desired date. The 12-month period since the last recalculation still applies. An application filed by 31 October allows 1 January 2027 at the earliest; one filed in November allows 1 February 2027. Applications can be submitted an unlimited number of times. Previously, deadlines depended on whether the application was filed by the 15th of the month.
There is no e-service on the Latvija.lv portal, so applications can be sent with a secure electronic signature to VSAA's e-address or to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv, handed in at a customer service centre, or mailed.
Repeat recalculation in October
Of the more than 140,000 people, 42,640 had their pensions recalculated again in October, because in April VSAA lacked data on all contributions, such as employers' February and March payments. The difference for April–September is paid in October, and annual indexation is applied. For example, if the pension after the April recalculation was 815 euros but should be 818, a 18-euro difference is paid in October.
