The law, which was approved by Congress in July, improves the healthcare benefits of people with disabilities and also provides for them to receive a pension.

It also reinstates state hiring quotas of 4% for people with disabilities, which the Milei administration has ignored.

The veto now goes before the Senate where a two-thirds majority is needed to bury it.

The libertarian Milei, who took office in December 2023, vetoed the law saying it was to uphold his promise to erase Argentina’s long-standing budget deficit.

“There is no money,” his government declared, in a decision that sparked protests.

Last year was the first time in 14 years that the government turned a surplus as Milei slashed public spending to tamp down inflation.

Officials estimate the disability law would cost between 0.22% and 0.42% of GDP.

To overturn the veto a two-thirds majority vote was won – 172-73 with two abstentions – in the 257-seat body.

The Chamber of Deputies is on Wednesday also expected to vote on Milei’s veto of a 7.2% pension increase that was also adopted by Congress in July.

Retirees have been among the hardest hit by Milei’s austerity measures.

Their basic pension – about US$260 per month – covers only about one-third of their basic needs, as estimated by the Gerontovida NGO.