The GM introduces targeting for the ‘State Age Pension’ known as the BRP

The universal pension is reinstated at age 60 but is only eligible for people earning less than Rs 50,000. This is the flagship measure of the 2026-2027 Budget presented by Navin Ramgoolam, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Friday June 19, 2026. An announcement which is welcomed by members of senior citizens' associations in Mauritius.

The expectations were high for the members of the Senior Citizen Council (SCC): Was the government going to reverse the pension reform implemented in 2025 and which had made it unpopular? “We did not want this reform to be brutal. This is why we announced a gradual alignment of the age of eligibility for the BRP with the legal retirement age, set at 65, indicated the Prime Minister. In this same speech, I announced the creation of a commission of experts responsible for conducting an in-depth, comprehensive and exhaustive review of the country's entire retirement system and making recommendations for equitable and sustainable reforms,” he maintains.

Thus, after one year, the government changes its mind by restoring eligibility for the pension at 60, but excludes people who receive Rs 50,000. Furthermore, the PM indicated that professional status will not be a criterion for eligibility for the state pension, but only the required age. Furthermore, the Basic Retirement Pension (BRP) will now be renamed the “State Age Pension”, or SAP from January 1, 2027. Couples with an income of less than Rs 100,000 per month remain eligible, but with a 25% deduction applied to their combined pension. According to the PM, this measure is in line with best international practices and the recommendations of Mauritius' multilateral partners, notably the World Bank, a specialist in social pensions.

To be eligible for SAP, an eligible person must reside in Mauritius. A temporary absence from Mauritius not exceeding 6 months will not be taken into account, i.e. the conditions are similar to those of the BRP.

However, a different residency requirement will apply to SAP. To be eligible, a person must have resided in Mauritius for at least 15 years in total since reaching the age of 40, of which 3 of these 15 years must be immediately before the application was submitted. This condition will come into force on January 1, 2027.

The PM announced the establishment of an independent unified pension regulatory authority which will be responsible for defining general and specific pension policy. A Central Pension Management Office will consolidate all state-funded schemes into a single body to digitize and facilitate services for members and retirees.

The Budget also plans to release Rs 10 million to improve the infrastructure and equipment of leisure centers, so that seniors can benefit