Social news from Bulgaria

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities reimburses social security contributions to employers who hire people with disabilities. For 2023 they have reimbursed 1.3 million leva

Social policy in Bulgaria seems to be working for employers who have hired people with disabilities.

This directly means that the state stimulates employers who decide to hire people with disabilities. It is up to you to decide The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (AHU) has reimbursed for 2023. BGN 1.27 million for social security contributions to enterprises for people with disabilities and to employers who have hired people with disabilities.

95 employers have benefited from this opportunity, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy said.

According to the Disabled Persons Act (DPA), specialized enterprises and cooperatives registered in the special register maintained by the AHU are entitled to claim 50% of the employer’s social security contributions for all employees.

Employers in the real sector can claim a refund of 30% of the contributions only for the disabled persons they employ.

Social enterprises have created employment for over 1,200 people.

The funds are reimbursed by the agency on a quarterly basis following checks on the disabled people employed and the social security contributions paid.

They are to be spent earmarked to support the rehabilitation and social integration of employed disabled people in specialized and real work environments.

Expenditure on investment in the creation of a suitable working environment for disabled employees is also eligible. The AHU also carries out on-the-spot checks to ensure that the funds are being used for the intended purpose.

Along with the application for reimbursement of social security contributions under the AHU, employers also submit a declaration of state aid received.

In connection with the new European Regulation 2023/2831 on de minimis State aid, AHU has developed a new declaration form.

The documents related to the claim for reimbursement of contributions are available on the website under “Projects/Programmes”, subheading “Reimbursement of contributions”, the Ministry informed.