Changes proposed to methodology of setting childbirth and childcare allowances

11.03.2014 16:34
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The Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family suggests making the lump sump childbirth payment equal to the value of the minimum basket of goods needed at birth, calculated for the previous year. Relevant suggestions are contained in the draft child protection strategy for 2014-2020, IPN reports.

Minister Valentina Buliga told a news conference that the value of the minimum basket of goods needed at birth, calculated for 2013, is 4,800 lei.

Another proposal concerns the monthly childcare allowance. The age until which the allowance is paid will be equaled for socially insured and socially uninsured persons and will be three years. Currently, the uninsured persons receive childcare allowances until the child turns one year and a half.

In the case of uninsured persons, the monthly childcare allowance during the first year of life of the child will be equal to the minimum subsistence level. In the first half of 2013, the minimum subsistence level was 591 lei. From the age of one until the age of three, the allowance will represent 50% of the minimum subsistence level set for children aged between one and seven. In the first half of last year, this level was 1,328 lei. Thus, the allowance will be 664 lei.

In the case of insured persons, the allowance will remain equal to 30% of the incomes calculated in accordance with the Law on Temporary Incapacity for Work, but won’t be lower than the allowances set for uninsured persons. Annually, the monthly allowance for looking after the child up to the age of three will be raised for all the recipients, both insured persons and uninsured ones, by 10% of the minimum subsistence level calculated for the previous year.

Under the draft strategy, a child schooling allowance will be paid, equal to the value of the minimum basket of goods needed for studies, calculated for the previous year. There will be also instituted a monthly allowance for supporting families with twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. The allowance for each of these children will represent 50% of the monthly childcare allowance.

An additional sum of over 600 million lei will be needed annually for implementing the strategy. The money will be allocated from the state budget and from the state social insurance budget.