The state sustained damage of 10 million lei after providing social benefits to persons who presented incorrect information about the incomes of their families. The frauds were identified as a result of inspections. So far the prosecution bodies started nine criminal cases that refer to both social workers and recipients of allowances. The inspections go on, IPN reports.
Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga told a news conference that in the nine cases the cumulative damage caused to the state comes to almost 4 million lei. The persons who received the money must pay it back.
The local public authorities and the district councils set up special teams for carrying out repeated inspections so as to exactly determine the payment capacity of the recipients and the real vulnerability degree of the family. If it turns out that the families are poor, the decision to pay back the money will be suspended.
Currently, 38,000 families receive social benefit of 800 lei on average from the state. From October 1, the applications for social benefit and cold-month allowances of 200 lei a month (for five months) can be renewed. Social benefit is provided to persons on incomes lower than the minimum state guaranteed aid (650 lei a month per family member). From January 1, 2014, the minimum state guaranteed aid will be 680 lei.
