The government has started paying out increased state aid payments as of July 1. The state aid has doubled for pensioners, and the list of aid recipients has been extended. An extra 309 million lei was allocated from the State Budget for this purpose, IPN learned from a press release of the National Social Insurance House.

Aid payments are offered to all recipients of pensions whose size does not exceed 1,500 lei, a standard that has led to an increase in the number of aid beneficiaries (the threshold was 1,300 lei until July 1). Under the new regulations, the 50 lei aid payment doubled to 100 lei, the 60 lei payment to 120 lei, and the 90 lei to 180 lei.

The highest type, of 180 lei, is offered to people affected in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, to servicemen and persons who served in the Interior Affairs troops, to recipients of integral retirement pensions, and to beneficiaries of social benefits for severe disabilities.

The list of beneficiary groups has been extended to include recipients of social insurance pensions, who will receive 180 lei in aid, and to recipients of survivor's pensions, who will get 100 lei for every survivor.

The recipients of benefits for severe disabilities will get 180 lei in aid, for pronounced disabilities – 120 lei, and for moderate disabilities – 100 lei. Elderly benefit recipients will receive 100 lei in aid. The children who receive benefits for the loss of the dependant will get 100 lei in aid, and the amount is doubled for the recipients of such benefits who lost both parents.