Senate committees advance permanent disability law ahead of emergency expiry

The Senate issued a report on the Disability Strengthening, Sustainability and Permanent Efficiency Bill on Wednesday afternoon. The report was approved in a joint meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Population and Human Development Committee.

The initiative preserves the main protections of the emergency law, which expires on December 31. It maintains the non-contributory pension at 70 percent of the minimum retirement benefit and keeps the Unique Disability Certificate as an access requirement.

“The goal of overcoming the emergency has given this Congress a role of finding a way out and not permanent conflict.”

The text also guarantees universal nomenclature, a unified tariff with automatic updates, and coverage under Incluir Salud. The Ministry of Health budget cannot be lower in real terms than the previous year, and the Executive must set a payment schedule.

Support came from La Libertad Avanza, the Justicialist bloc, PRO, the UCR, and provincial blocs. Patricia Bullrich said the goal is to find a way out rather than engage in permanent conflict.

Juliana Di Tullio stated they would back the report to ensure certainty and prevent the disability emergency from lapsing on December 31. The government now seeks to pass the law in the November 19 session.

The process was complicated by the absence of senators traveling to the United States as observers for the midterm elections. Internal resistance also emerged, with Economy Minister Luis Caputo among those preferring the issue remain stalled.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive in Argentina on Sunday, November 8, and visit the Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole on Monday morning.