The planned increases in social payments for the year 2026 are being widely discussed in society. Particularly, the indexing of pensions and expectations regarding social benefits carry significant importance in terms of protecting citizens' real incomes. How the pension and benefit mechanisms will be adjusted alongside the increase in the average monthly wage is one of the key topics on the agenda of social policy.
Medianews.az reports that in an explanation to NOCOMMENT.az on the topic, Akif Nasirli, chairman of the Center for Liberal Economists and an economic expert, stated that for the year 2026, approximately 9.2% indexing and increase in pensions is forecasted corresponding to the rise in the average monthly wage. This increase is calculated to raise the nominal amount of pensions and to protect real income. According to the expert, based on projections, the average monthly pension will approach 590 manats, and budget expenditures on labor pensions will be increased.
Akif Nasirli noted that social benefits and other cash aids are regulated through a separate mechanism, unlike pensions, and their automatic indexing at the same percentage as the increase in the average wage is not yet reflected in legislation. Nevertheless, the fact that the funds allocated in the 2026 state budget for social benefits, pensions, and compensations exceed 2 billion manats and represent an approximately 9.1% increase compared to the previous year indicates that overall support in the area of social payments is being strengthened.
According to the expert, the increase in expenditures for both pensions and benefits and cash aids in the social sector for 2026 is one of the priority directions of the state's social protection policy, and these steps serve to protect the real incomes of citizens.
