News

29 April 2026

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has sent a recommendation to the Social Assistance Agency following repeated reports of delayed payments to personal assistants across the country.

People are complaining about systematic delays in payments, even though the Personal Assistance Act stipulates that funds must be paid by the 20th day of each month. They also point to a lack of clarity regarding where the funds are being held up — between the Social Assistance Agency and the municipalities — which creates serious difficulties for them in meeting even basic daily needs.

On the other hand, the delay also jeopardizes care for people with disabilities and puts them at real risk.

The reports also indicate that some personal assistants have debts to financial institutions, which are reluctant to make concessions when payments are due after the specified deadline. Additional debts accumulate in the form of late fees and interest, which they must subsequently repay.

In this regard, the Ombudsman insists on urgent measures to ensure timely payments, better coordination among institutions, and a clear mechanism for informing citizens in the event of delays.

“I believe that when systemic problems are identified, steps are needed to address them permanently, including through proposals for regulatory or organisational changes,” adds Velislava Delcheva.