Bulgaria activates system of fuel price compensation for low-income individuals

The system to compensate low-income individuals for high fuel prices is being activated after official figures showed that a litre of diesel cost 1.60 euro for three consecutive days, caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said on March 25.

Those eligible for aid will be paid 20 euro a month in a month in which the criterion for triggering the assistance is met. This criterion is that the price of a litre of A95 petrol or of diesel remains at or above 1.60 euro for three consecutive days.

Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency has begun publishing on its website a table showing prices per litre of A95H petrol and of diesel, with the information dating back to March 20.

Klisurski said that it was important to note that while in the past four days, from March 21 to 24, prices of a litre of diesel had reached the level of 1.60 euro, there was a stabilisation of prices.

“We have reached the level, the measure is activated in support of Bulgarian citizens who are entitled to assistance, but there is also a relatively short-term stabilization of prices,” he said.

Klisurski said that the revenue agency was carrying out inspections of fuel stations, and more than 800 out of 4000 had been checked so far. The agency was seeking to establish that prices were based solely on objective market circumstances and supply prices, and not on speculation.

Those eligible for compensation are individuals whose average monthly gross income is less than or equal to 652.41 euro for 2025 or double the poverty line for 2025, or whose average monthly gross income for 2024 less than or equal to 537.88 euro, or double the poverty line for 2024.

An important condition is that the person owns a motor vehicle in his/her own name, or uses a vehicle under a leasing contract. The vehicle for which compensation is provided must have valid third party liability insurance.

Compensation is paid for only one vehicle. In the event that the vehicle is owned by two or more persons, the assistance is only available to one co-owner.

No compensation is paid if the vehicle is electric.

The revenue agency website showed that, as of March 24, the price of a litre of A95H petrol was 1.43 euro, while the price of a litre of diesel was 1.60 euro.

On March 25, the fuelo.net website showed the average price of a litre of A95 as 1.46 euro and that of a litre of diesel, 1.61 euro.

(Photo: Hippopx)