The Cuban government has announced an official increase in pensions for age, disability, and spousal death, aiming to benefit those currently receiving up to 4,000 pesos. As stated in Resolution 14/2025, published in Official Gazette No. 71, this measure seeks to "ensure" better protection for the most vulnerable sectors of the Cuban population.
According to the resolution, pension adjustments will be as follows: Pensions up to 2,472 pesos will see a rise of 1,528 pesos. Those between 2,473 and 3,999 pesos will be elevated to a total of 4,000 pesos per month. This increase will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will also apply to payments made in August.
The adjustment encompasses not only retirees due to age and disability but also beneficiaries of deceased pensioners, who will receive increments proportional to their entitled share. Additionally, new pensions granted following the implementation of this measure will adhere to the same tiers and values.
This increase supersedes Resolution 28 from November 2020, as outlined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The adjustment will also extend to pensioners from the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. Provincial and municipal labor and social security offices, along with relevant ministerial bodies, are tasked with the implementation and oversight of the new regulations.
However, this adjustment does not address the dire conditions faced by thousands of retirees on the island, where the cost of living continues to soar and access to essential goods is increasingly limited. A recent survey by the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC) indicates that at least 30,000 Cuban pesos per month are needed to cover basic food expenses. In Cuba, even a basic carton of eggs can cost over 3,000 pesos, while most essential goods—such as oil, detergent, chicken, or powdered milk—are only available in dollars or MLC, a currency not paid or sold to the public in salaries or pensions.
This situation compels millions of citizens to rely on remittances from abroad. The government itself has acknowledged this unsustainable gap. In recent statements, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa bluntly admitted: “Our retirees have average pensions of 1,525 pesos. You can't live on that; you can't live on an average salary of 5,000 pesos, or even 6,000 pesos… You can't live with today's prices.”
Despite these announcements, the public perception remains clear: these adjustments are insufficient in the face of the severe economic crisis gripping the country. For many retirees, even after the increase, they will continue to depend on family assistance to survive.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Pension Adjustments
When will the new pension increases take effect in Cuba?
The new pension increases will become effective on September 1, 2025, and will also apply to payments made in August.
Who will benefit from the pension increase in Cuba?
The increase will benefit pensioners receiving up to 4,000 pesos, including those on age, disability, and spousal death pensions.
Does the pension increase solve the financial struggles of retirees in Cuba?
No, the increase does not resolve the financial difficulties, as the cost of living in Cuba continues to rise, making the adjustments insufficient for many retirees.