Pensions Raised by 30%
Syria's Minister of Finance, Muhammad Yasar Barniyah, confirmed on 30 June 2026 that retirement pensions will be paid in the coming days and will carry a 30 percent increase. The raise was set by Presidential Decree No. 135 of 2026, which President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued on 26 May 2026.
The minister set out the timetable in a public statement, framing the payout as the moment the decree moves from paper into retirees' accounts after weeks of preparation.
Who the Decree Covers
The decree grants a 30 percent rise on the value of the pension due to retirees covered under the pension and insurance laws and the social insurance law, effective from the date it took force.
By tying the increase to those two legal regimes, the measure reaches the main categories of state and insured retirees rather than a single agency or sector, making it a nationwide adjustment.
Clearing the Way for Payment
The minister said the Ministry of Finance has finished preparing and issuing the executive instructions tied to the decree, removing the last administrative step before disbursement can begin.
Those instructions were drawn up in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the General Social Insurance Institution, so the higher pensions move through approved channels rather than improvised payments.
Backing the Pension Funds
The ministry said it is providing full support to the General Social Insurance Institution and the General Insurance and Pensions Institution, enabling both bodies to meet their obligations toward retirees.
It tied that support to a goal of disbursing salaries and pensions on their due dates without any delay, a recurring sticking point for households that rely on fixed monthly payments.
A Pound Under Pressure
The adjustment lands as the Syrian pound (SYP) has weakened by roughly 7 percent against the US dollar (USD) over the past week, trading near 13,450 to the dollar on 30 June 2026.
For retirees on fixed incomes, a 30 percent nominal raise restores part of the purchasing power lost to that slide, though the gap between incomes and living costs remains wide.