04.04.2023
THE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL BENEFITS WILL INCREASE FROM JUNE 1
From June 1, the amount of social benefits will be determined depending on the poverty line in the country and will not be tied to the guaranteed minimum income, as it is at the moment. The introduction of the new mechanism for social assistance will be carried out through the project prepared by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for changes to the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on Social Assistance, which have been published for public discussion.
The new regulations will ensure that a greater number of those in need will be able to receive support from the state. The amount of benefits they receive will increase. It will be updated regularly and will be more responsive to their needs. This will improve the social protection that people from vulnerable groups receive from the state. Increasing the amount of social benefits and expanding the scope will contribute to reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
The changes in the regulations will ensure the implementation of the changes in the Law on Social Assistance, which established the new model of social assistance. The amendments focus on the inclusion of assisted people in the labor market, giving priority to incentive measures and easing restrictions. The new regulations provide for the period for mandatory, continuous registration with the Directorate of Labor before submitting an application-declaration for social benefits to be reduced from 6 to 3 months. This will enable faster access to social assistance and reduce the risk of falling out of the system. It is envisaged that the time for community service by unemployed people receiving social benefits will be reduced from the current 14 days of 4 hours per day to 40 hours per month. In this way, it is possible to include them in various measures to obtain and increase their qualifications and experience, which is a factor for their faster inclusion in the labor market.
With the draft of the changes in the Regulations for the implementation of the Law on Social Assistance, new opportunities are provided for the support of risk groups that have not received support until now. It is planned to cover the initial needs of adults leaving a residential type of social service, to grant targeted assistance in the amount of the poverty line for the relevant year. The aid will be given for three months, granted only once and on the condition that the person has registered with the Labor Office Directorate.
The changes give the right, when an unemployed person or an unemployed family member receiving monthly social benefits starts work, that the benefits continue to be paid for a period of 3 months within 1 year, starting from the moment of concluding the employment contract. The restriction on granting monthly allowances to students in higher education institutions, as well as to students from private schools, is no longer applicable. It is planned not to require registration in the Labor Office Directorate for the granting of monthly allowances to students in higher schools in specialties for which only a regular form of education is provided.
The acceptance of the normative changes proposed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy will eliminate the negatives of the social assistance system related to the guaranteed minimum income. This will also guarantee the implementation of the recommendation of the European Commission regarding the scope, adequacy and regular updating of monthly social benefits.
