26.01.2023
WHAT CHANGES TO SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ARE IN FORCE FROM THIS YEAR?
What are the main changes in the field of social security and the policy to support families with children, which are already in force from January 1, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy recalls.
Without income test, the following are provided:
One-time aid of BGN 300 for students enrolled in the first, second, third, fourth and eighth grades in the academic year 2023/2024. The aid is for all students, regardless of whether they study in a state, municipal or private school.
On December 15, 2022, the parliament decided that the one-time aid should be given to all students in the primary level of education, as well as in the eighth grade. This happened with the adoption of changes to the Law on Family Benefits for Children. Until last year, the one-time aid was given only to children enrolled in the first and eighth grades. For the academic year 2022/2023, it was also BGN 300.
The amount of the one-time aid is determined annually in the Law on the State Budget for the relevant year, but it is not less than the previous year. The allowance is paid in two installments, with 50 percent of its amount paid after the grant order comes into force, and the remainder paid at the beginning of the second school term if the child continues to attend school.
Nearly 100,000 families of children enrolled in the first and eighth grades for the academic year 2022/2023 were entitled to the planned one-time aid of BGN 300 last year.
Last year, one-time aid was granted to 49,879 families for 50,933 first-graders and to 48,595 families for 49,464 eighth-graders.
Financial support helps parents to purchase some of the basic supplies and clothing needed for students without difficulty. It is obtained in the situation that the child lives permanently in the country and is not placed for upbringing outside the family. It is also provided to students placed in the families of relatives and relatives and in foster families, as well as to a guardian/guardian.
Without an income test, monthly allowances of BGN 200 for raising a child up to one year and monthly allowances for children up to the completion of secondary education, but no more than 20 years of age, when the children are raised by their single adoptive parents, are also provided without an income test.
From this year, grandparents can also take leave after the grandchild turns six months old
Mothers can transfer the use of pregnancy and maternity leave after the 6th month from the birth of the child not only to the father, but also to the grandparents, provided that they are employed or employed.
Adoptive mothers who use leave when adopting a child up to 5 years of age have the same right.
The grandmother or grandfather to whom the leave has been transferred is entitled to compensation from the National Social Insurance Institution until the child turns 1 year old. Its amount is 90% of their average insurance income for the last 24 months.
On December 22, the parliament decided that maternity leave can also be used by grandparents after the child reaches six months of age. This happened after the adoption of the second reading of the provisions of the extended budget law amending the Labor Code.
