People who take care of persons disabled since childhood of I degree, or of disabled children of I degree, as well as of blind persons of I degree will benefit from allowances increased by MDL 50-150. The Parliament passed in first reading on Friday, April 20, the draft law which also includes the increase of the one-time death benefit. It is proposed to increase the allowances for the aforementioned categories of persons from MDL 150 to 200. The allowance for the disabled persons of I degree is proposed to be increased from MDL 150 to 300. The death benefit will be increased, according to the draft law, from MDL 500 to 600. MP Valeriu Cosarciu proposed that these increases have retroactive effect, as from January 1, but the proposal was not accepted, so that the amendments will come into force once published in “The Official Monitor of Moldova”. The total sum necessary for paying the increased allowances included in the draft law amounts to MDL 14.6 mln, funds which are included in the 2007 State Budget.