Remittances to be counted in fixing social benefits
- 04.10.2008 09:01
- 1233
- 2 minute(s)
-
All the monthly incomes of a family, either earned or unearned, including remittances received, will be counted in calculating the total average income of that family, which will then be used to fix the amount of the social benefits which its members are entitled to; only the childbirth benefits, death benefits, unemployment benefits and disaster relief compensations will be exceptions, Info-Prim Neo reports.
Under the Social Welfare Law, promulgated on September 26, financial aid will be dispensed to those families whose total average income is below the minimum guaranteed income. The rule applies to both Moldovan citizens and stateless persons or refugees hosted by Moldova.
The level of the minimum guaranteed income for 2009 was established at 430 lei per person. A 100 percent-rate of this level will be applied to the welfare applicant; for each adult member of the family, other than the applicant, the rate is 70 percent, and for each child 50 percent. Additional rates are 50 percent for each child with disabilities, 30 percent for each adult with disabilities, plus 10 percent if this is the only adult member in the family.
The 2009 State Budget provides for 204.7 million lei to implement the Social Welfare Law, with the Ministry of Social Protection seeking more funding from the government for this purpose.
Effective October 1, the families having at least one disabled member may apply for social benefits. The provisions of the Law concerning families looking after little children are to take effect on 1 January 2009, and for the rest of beneficiaries on 1 July 2009. The Ministry of Social Protection estimates that roughly 72,000 families with 216,000 members will be served by this law.
Earlier this week the European Commission disbursed the first €5m installment from a €20m grant offered to Moldova in support of its social sector budget and of its efforts to reform the social system. This is the first time that funds of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) are being allocated to Moldova. The disbursal of the remaining two installments, worth €7.5m each, is conditioned on the success in implementing the planned activities. The progress of the Moldovan Government in carrying out this reform will be monitored by independent experts.
