A video shared on TikTok by young Cuban Yenia Reynaldo (@yeniacubita) last Friday has highlighted the dire state of the pension system in Cuba. Her grandfather, after dedicating over four decades to his job, receives a pension of merely 3,000 Cuban pesos, which on the informal market is worth less than five dollars.
In the viral TikTok video, Yenia counts the bills from her grandfather's pension check aloud while asking how many years he worked. "Forty-something," he replies. The count ends at 3,000 CUP. "The dollar is at six hundred eighty, and Dad got three thousand pesos, forty years of work," says Yenia, blending astonishment with irony.
The scene becomes even more poignant as Yenia asks her grandfather if he'd lend her the money. "Why would you want me to take the money? You know why. Does it get me a trip? Ha, ha, ha, ha. To a plate of food," he responds with bitter laughter. The final remark is striking: "With this, I can't even step onto the first step of the bus."
Yenia's grandfather's pension is even below the official minimum pension in Cuba, set at 4,000 CUP monthly since September 2025 following a partial increase approved by the regime that benefited over 1.3 million individuals. However, even this official minimum falls short. At this week's informal exchange rate—around 673 CUP per dollar—it amounts to less than 10 dollars.
The contrast with the actual cost of living on the island is stark. The basic food basket for one person is estimated at a minimum of 30,000 CUP per month, and covering all basic needs—food, hygiene, clothing, medicine, and transport—would require about 96,000 CUP monthly, according to economists cited in Cuban media during 2026.
Pension System Under Pressure
This isn't an isolated case. In April, a retiree with 40 years of service was paid 3,727 CUP—less than eight dollars—after waiting eight months for his first payment. In June, a 70-year-old pensioner with a 4,000 CUP pension publicly stated that this amount wasn't enough to eat throughout the month.
Cuba is home to more than 1.7 million retirees, most of whom rely solely on their state pension. The system also faces logistical challenges: in July, the regime announced that private businesses (mipymes) would handle cash pension payments using their daily earnings, with state compensation to follow. Economist Elías Amor criticized this measure, warning of the risks involved in having mipymes pay pensions amid hyperinflation and the rapid devaluation of the peso.
Yenia's caption for her video aptly captures the plight of millions of elderly Cubans: "Imagine having breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your pension check."
Understanding Cuba's Pension Struggles
How much is the average pension in Cuba?
The average pension in Cuba is often below the minimum official level of 4,000 CUP monthly, which, due to the informal exchange rate, equates to less than 10 dollars.
What challenges does the Cuban pension system face?
The Cuban pension system struggles with insufficient funds, logistical issues, and a reliance on private businesses to handle pension payments amid economic instability.