Coalition partners challenge 2028 start for higher childcare benefits

Lithuania’s proposed increase to childcare benefits has caused disagreement within the governing coalition, with partners saying the planned 2028 start was never discussed. LRT reports that opposition politicians, coalition representatives and an economist have also called for the changes to take effect sooner.

The Social Security and Labour Ministry’s family package proposes raising benefits for parents who choose 18 months of childcare leave. Under the plan, the parent on leave would receive 100% of their previous take-home pay for the full period, keeping family income from falling.

The ministry has said the changes are expected to take effect on January 1, 2028. The higher benefits would apply only to children born after the amendments come into force. Parents whose children are born before then would not have their benefits recalculated, the ministry said, citing the principle that laws do not apply retroactively and the additional cost to the state social insurance fund.

Tomas Tomilinas, a representative of the coalition partner Democrats “For Lithuania” and chair of the parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs and Labour, told LRT he had not heard that the increase was planned for 2028. He said the date had not been discussed at coalition meetings.

Vilnius University associate professor A. Bartkus also argued that the measure should start earlier. The family package was presented by the ministry in September with the aim of supporting families and helping to increase the birth rate.