In January-September of the current year, over 235.7 thousand people in Belarus received state targeted social assistance (GASР), with the funding volume for GASР payments reaching Br64.1 million. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
In January-September of the current year, over 235.7 thousand people in Belarus received state targeted social assistance (GASР), with the funding volume for GASР payments reaching Br64.1 million. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
State targeted social assistance is provided to low-income families and individuals in difficult life situations. Among the regions of the republic, the Gomel region had the largest number of state support recipients (41.3 thousand people), while the Grodno region had the fewest (24.1 thousand).
The GASР system provides four types of social benefits.
Thus, over the nine months of this year, a monthly social benefit was granted to 66.1 thousand residents of the republic amounting to Br15.5 million, and a one-time social benefit to 37 thousand people for Br3.8 million. The main recipients of monthly and one-time social benefits are traditionally large and single-parent families with underage children (68%). Incidentally, socially disadvantaged families receive benefits in kind: food products, clothing and footwear, and essential items (for Br250 thousand).
Over January-September of the current year, 23.9 thousand children were provided with free food products, with a total cost of Br15.7 million. The average cost of one food package per month was Br109.7. Large and single-parent families also predominate among those receiving food products.
Over the nine months, 94.8 thousand people received a social benefit to cover the costs of purchasing diapers, amounting to Br24.4 million. This type of benefit is provided regardless of the average per capita income of the family (citizen) upon presentation of a medical advisory opinion from a state healthcare organisation.
Until July 1 of the current year, a social allowance was provided for the payment of technical means of social rehabilitation. This type of allowance has been excluded from the GASP system by the decree "On improving the procedure for providing state targeted social assistance", which is aimed at creating a unified system for providing certain categories of citizens with technical means of social rehabilitation. Thus, disabled persons of Group III and children in need of rehabilitation means are granted the right to preferential provision of such means. Now they are provided with rehabilitation means free of charge through state healthcare organizations and RUP "Belarusian Prosthetic and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center" (RUP BPOVC). This significantly speeds up the process of obtaining the necessary rehabilitation means. In addition, disabled persons of Group III are granted the right to free stay in the stationary prosthetics and rehabilitation department of RUP BPOVC (based on medical reports).
The decree provides for expanding the list of hygiene products, the purchase costs of which will be compensated within the framework of the social allowance payment for reimbursement of expenses for the purchase of diapers. Disabled persons of Group I and disabled children with the fourth degree of health loss will have their expenses for the purchase of diapers, absorbent briefs, absorbent sheets (diapers), and urological pads (liners) compensated. The procedure for applying for this type of assistance is simplified: close relatives of disabled persons will also be able to submit the relevant application to the labor, employment and social protection authorities.
State support for certain categories of low-income families has been strengthened in Belarus. Thus, families raising minor children, where parents are disabled persons of Group I or II, or one of the parents is a disabled person of Group I and the other is caring for them, are granted the right to receive a monthly social allowance for the maximum possible period - 12 months.
In Belarus, GASP was received in 2016 by 290.4 thousand people, in 2015 - 251.2 thousand, in 2014 - 217.8 thousand people, in 2013 - 200.7 thousand people.