Who is entitled to additional heating money in Latvia? Are you on the list?

Starting from November 1, 2026, amendments to the Social Services and Social Assistance Law will come into effect, providing for an increase in housing benefits for the heating season. The new rules will be in effect until April 30, 2027. According to the official statement from the Saeima of Latvia, the changes are aimed at supporting low-income households that are increasingly struggling to pay for utilities. **Who is entitled to the increased benefit?** It is important to understand that this does not mean an automatic increase in payments for all pensioners, people with disabilities, or families with children. Housing benefits are targeted social assistance. When assigning them, the municipal social service assesses the income and material situation of the household, as well as housing maintenance expenses. At the same time, having official low-income status is not a mandatory condition in all cases. Other residents can receive assistance if, after assessing their income and expenses, it turns out that they meet the established criteria. **How will the benefit amounts change?** Starting in November, increased coefficients will be applied when calculating housing benefits: - For single pensioners and people with disabilities, the coefficient increases from 2.1 to 2.5. - For households consisting exclusively of pensioners or people with disabilities, it increases from 1.7 to 2. - For families with children under 18, as well as students under 24, it increases from 1.7 to 2. - For other households, it increases from 1.3 to 1.7. These coefficients are used in the calculation of the benefit and do not mean that payments will automatically increase by the corresponding number of times. The specific amount depends on the family's financial situation and the housing expenses considered. **Do you need to submit a new application?** Residents who have already been assigned housing benefits and whose material situation has been assessed by the social service will not need to reapply for recalculation. Municipal social services will independently recalculate the payments considering the new coefficients. However, those who have not previously received housing benefits but are experiencing difficulties in paying utility bills should contact the social service of their municipality. Thanks to the change in rules, some households that previously did not qualify for assistance may now be eligible for support. **How many people will receive assistance?** According to forecasts, the number of housing benefit recipients will increase by an average of 2,232 people per month, reaching 37,610. The average benefit amount per recipient is expected to rise from €149.19 to €174.11 per month. The total additional expenses for the state budget are estimated at €8.7 million. Of this, more than €8 million is allocated for increasing housing benefits, and about €602,000 is for additional payments to social service employees for the extra workload.