Ministers Axe 1970s Regulation Ensuring Patients Receive Full Pensions During Long Stays

State pensions will no longer be slashed by 75% for patients admitted to public hospitals for more than three months, following a government policy shift announced on 10 March.

The Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Ashok Subron, confirmed that basic pensions under the National Pensions Act will now be paid in their entirety, regardless of the duration of a recipient’s stay in a public medical facility.

The reform, which marks a significant departure from regulations in place since the 1970s, follows the Cabinet’s approval of the National Pensions (Non-Contributory Benefits) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on Friday, 6 March.

The only exception to this new ruling is for residents of the Brown Sequard Mental Health Care Centre.

The policy change was spearheaded by Mr Subron and Junior Minister Kugan Parapen.

According to the Ministry, the ministers had signalled their intention to overhaul the long-standing regulation as early as November 2025.

The move comes in response to mounting public criticism regarding the former practice of cutting pension payments after a 90-day hospitalisation.

Acknowledging the widespread opposition to the previous system, Junior Minister Kugan Parapen stated: “It was not fair, and we have listened to you.”

Source: Defi Media