State pensions

Award of state pensions of first and second degree

State pensions of first and second degree of the Republic of Lithuania are awarded for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have attained the age for old-age pension as laid down in the Law on State Social Insurance Pensions, have been recognised as incapable or partially capable for work, lost 60% or more of their capacity for work.

State pensions of first degree are awarded by the Government by submission of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour for armed resistance participants – volunteer soldiers – according to lists of volunteer soldiers provided by the Genocide and resistance research centre of Lithuania; to individuals with a respective status, including top-level state officials by submission of the supreme government and administration authorities of the Republic of Lithuania with agreement of the Republic of Lithuania Commission for Awarding Degree One and Two State Pensions under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (the Commission).

State pensions of first degree are awarded by the Commission to persons who are nominated for the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize according to the laws, to champions of the Olympic Games, champions of the Paralympic Games,  champions of the Deaflympics by submission of Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Lithuania.

State pensions of second degree are awarded by the Commission to resistance participants – freedom fighters by submission of the Genocide and Resistance research centre of Lithuania; to the mothers who had given birth to and raised or fathers who raised children till 8 years and well-educated five or more children by submission of the municipal administrations; honorary donors by submission of the Ministry of health of the Republic of Lithuania, winners of the Olympic Games, winners of the Paralympic Games, winners of the Deaflympics by submission of Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Lithuania

A state pension of the first degree amounts to 4 state pension bases – EUR 289,40. 
A state pension of the second degree amounts to 2 state pension bases – EUR 144,70. 

State pensions of widows and orphans are aworded for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania for deceased recipients of state pensions of one and two degree.

Person who is entitled to the widows and orphan’s state pension for the deceased recipient of state pension of one and two degree, and to the state social insurance pension of widows and orphans can choose the type of pension to be awarded and paid - the state pension of widows and orphans or the state social insurance pension of widows and orphans.

State pensions of widows and orphans are awarded for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania for deceased recipients of state pensions of first and second degree.

Person who is entitled to the widows and orphan’s state pension for the deceased recipient of state pension of first and second degree, and to the state social insurance pension of widows and orphans can choose the type of pension to be awarded and paid - the state pension of widows and orphans or the state social insurance pension of widows and orphans.

State pensions of widows and widowers are awarded for the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have attained the age for old-age pension as laid down in the Law on State Social Insurance Pensions, these pensions are also awarded to the persons who were rated as incapable or partially capable of work on the day when the death of the spouse occurred (or within 5 years from the spouse’s death). A widow or a widower who did not have children with the deceased spouse become entitled to the pension only if at least 5 years have passed from the day of marriage registration in accordance with the established procedure to the day of the spouse’s death. Widows and widower’s state pension is paid in the amount of 20% of the state pension to which the deceased person was entitled.

Orphan’s state pensions are awarded to the deceased person’s children and adopted children under 18 years of age as well as to older children where they had been rated as disabled before attaining 18 years of age and where they have been incapable or partially capable of work ever since attaining 18 years of age. The right to receive the orphan’s state pension is also granted to full-time pupils and students of the higher and post-secondary education institutions as well as vocational and general education schools registered the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the established procedure shall be entitled to the orphan's state pension until graduation, but not longer than until they attain 24 years of age. Orphan’s state pension is paid in the amount of 30% of the state pension to which the deceased person was entitled. Where more children are entitled to the orphan’s pension, each of them shall be awarded equal portions of the pension not exceeding 30% per child and not exceeding 80% of the total amount of the state pension.

These state pensions are granted and paid by territorial units of the State Social Insurance Fund Board. 

Pensions for scientists

The award and payment of state pensions to scientists is governed by the temporary Law on State Pensions for Scientists. State pensions for scientists are awarded to individuals with an academic degree or title and at least a 10 year career of a doctor or habilitated doctor at the age of old-age pension or having lost 60–100% of their capacity for work.

State pensions for victims

Awarding and payment of victims’ state pensions is regulated by the Republic of Lithuania Law on State Pensions.

The following citizens of the Republic of Lithuania shall be entitled to victims’ state pensions:

• the person recognised as incapable or partially capable of work as a result of the aggression perpetrated during 11-13 January 1991 and subsequent events as well as the defenders of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania who were injured on 11-13 January 1991, but have not been recognised as incapable or partially capable of work as a result thereof;
• political prisoners, deportees and former abandoned children, subject to the presentation of the documents evidencing restoration of the rights of the political prisoners and deportees or the documents certifying the legal status of a political prisoner, deportee or former abandoned child;
• participants in the resistance to the occupations of 1940-1990 – freedom fighters who have been recognised as having this status in accordance with the procedure laid down by laws;
• the persons who, during World War II, were deported for forced labour (also minor family members who were born to them at that time or were kept together) or were kept in ghettos, concentration camps or other confinement camps;
• the persons who, during World War II, served in the active armies, guerrilla squads or combined units of the states of the anti-Hitler coalition;
• participants in elimination of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant;
• the persons who became invalids during compulsory military service or military training in the Soviet Army (22 July 1945 – 31 December 1991) or were later recognised as invalids due to the illnesses incurred in connection with the military service;
• the persons who, during compulsory military service or military training in the Soviet Army, served in Afghanistan;
• the persons transferred to Lithuania under the agreement between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany of 10 January 1941 on the exchange of population, subject to the presentation of the certifying documents of a victim of the occupations-displaced person.

Upon the death of the recipient of a victims’ state pension, victims’ state survivor’s and orphan’s pensions shall be awarded. These pensions are awarded and paid where the persons entitled thereto have attained the pensionable age or are rated as incapable or partially capable of work.

Pensions for officers and soldiers

The award and payment of state pensions to officers and soldiers is governed by the Law on Officers and Soldiers state pensions. State pensions for officers and soldiers may be of the following types: for the service; for lost capacity for work; for widows and orphans.

Pensions for judges

The award and payment of state pensions to judges is governed by the Law on State Pensions for Judges. State pensions for judges were introduced on 1 January 2003.

Judges’ state pensions are awarded to the persons who worked as judges of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the Court of Appeal of Lithuania, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania and other Lithuanian general jurisdiction and specialised courts as well as judges of any international court elected or delegated by Lithuania.