Lithuania

Old Age, Disability, Death

First law: 1925.
Current laws: 1956, 1990.
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Exchange rate: U.S.$1.00 equals 4.0 Litas (Lt).

Coverage

Insured workers and permanent residents.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 1% of wage.
Employer: 23% of payroll.
Government: Any deficit. In addition to pensions, the state social insurance budget finances the other social insurance programs.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: 62 years (men) and 60 years (women); plus 30 years of contributions.
Disability pension: Disability involving either permanent or prolonged incapacity for work, from 1 to 30 years of contributions (men) or from 1 to 28 years (women), depending on age.
Survivor pension: The deceased must have been a pensioner, or at the time of death, must have had the length of coverage necessary for award of a disability pension.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: Basic pension no less than 110% of poverty level (75 Lt on January 1, 1995) and a supplemental pension based on years of coverage and ratio of individual earnings to national average.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: Varies according to degree of disability.
Total disability: 100% of old-age pension.
Constant attendance supplement: 50% of basic old age pension.
Partial disability: 50% of old age pension.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: Eligible survivors include: children, up to the age of 18, (24 if student); spouse who has reached old age or is disabled; non-working spouse (some de facto relationships quality) caring for deceased's children under 8.
Amount of benefits: Spouse, 50% of deceased wage earner's total benefit. Children, 25% of deceased's pension for each. Total not to exceed 100% of deceased worker's pension.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Social Security and Labor; State Social Insurance Fund Council (composition determined by the Government); State Social Insurance Administration; Territorial State Social Insurance Fund Offices (cities and regions).

Sickness and Maternity

First law: 1925.
Current law: 1991 as amended.
Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance systems.
Universal system for medical care.

Coverage

Sickness benefits: Persons insured under compulsory or voluntary social insurance.
Medical benefits: All residents.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See pension contributions, above.
Employer: See pension contributions, above.
Government: Any deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Sickness and medical benefits: No minimum qualifying period.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: Employer pays at least 50% of wages for first 3 days, subsequently social insurance pays. 80% of wages (average of preceding 3 months) up to 27 calendar days; 100% from 31st day for four months or determination of disability.
Maternity benefit: 100% of salary (average of preceding 3 months)
for insured women. Provided for 70 calendar days before and 56 calendar days after birth. Either parent may take official leave from employment for up to one year to care for new infant and receive child care benefit equal to 60% of wages.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits: Provided directly by government health facilities.
Cost of medication during stay in permanent medical establishments is covered by the State. In case of outpatient treatment for insured persons, part of the cost of medication is covered by the State social insurance budget.

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Medical benefits for dependents: Same as for head of family.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Social Security; Ministry of Health; State social insurance administration and its territorial social insurance departments; Local authorities.

Work Injury

First law: 1991.
Current laws: 1991.
Type of program: Social insurance. Employer liability for compensation governed by state legislation.

Coverage

Wage earners.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See pension contributions.
Employer: See pension contributions.
Government: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Work-injury benefits: No minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Temporary disability benefit: 100% of wage, payable until resumption of work capacity or determination of disability.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability benefit: Same as under disability pension.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: Same as under disability pension.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Social Protection; State Social Insurance Administration and its territorial social insurance departments.

Unemployment

First law: 1919.
Current law: 1990 and 1996.
Type of program: Social insurance.

Coverage

Employed workers.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.
Employer: See pension contributions. (1.6% is transferred to unemployment fund.)
Government: Allocations from State budget in case of deficit.

Qualifying Conditions

Unemployment benefit: 24 months of contributions in last 3 years.
No qualifying period in cases of dismissal without fault, caring for disabled, returning from military service, returning from imprisonment, as well as for graduates, women, and single men bringing up children under 8 years of age.
Those who do not meet these requirements, will be entitled to a benefit after working in public works, or works supported by the Employment fund, or taking courses in vocational training (not less than 180 calendar days in last 12 months).

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefit: The amount of unemployment benefit depends on the insured's state social insurance record and reason for loss of a job.
Minimum benefit is government set state supported income (120 Lt or 17.5% of average wage).
Maximum benefit is 2 times minimum standard of living (220 Lt or 32% of average wage). Payable from the eighth day after registration and for not more than 6 months in any 12-month period.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Social Security; Employment Exchange of Lithuania, comprising the national and territorial employment exchanges.

Family Allowances

First law: 1991.
Current law: 1995.
Type of program: Benefits financed by state and municipal budgets provide mean-tested social pensions to families with low income.
Small grants are also provided that are not subject to means-testing.