The indexation of the guaranteed minimum income by 6.4% as of April 1 this year will lead to higher social welfare given that this is determined based in the guaranteed minimum income, IPN reports.

Currently, the guaranteed minimum income is 900 lei, but will rise to 961 lei as a result of indexation.

A sum of 640 million lei was earmarked in the 2017 state budget for paying social welfare and 225 million lei for paying cold-month allowances.

Social welfare is offered to families in difficulty for a period of six months. After this period, welfare can be provided for another six months if the person who lost the job applied to be employed again.

In Moldova, social welfare has been paid since 2010.