On October 31, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. In Belarus, from November of this year, the amounts of state benefits for families raising children will increase by 29.9%. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Department of Population, Gender and Family Policy of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. According to specialists, the government resolution has approved the subsistence minimum budget per capita (SMB) at Br574,790, which is 29.9% higher than the standard that has been in effect from August 1 to October 31 of the current year (Br442,360). Thus, from November 1, 2011, to January 31, 2012, the monthly child care allowance for a child under three years of age will be Br574,790, and for a child over three years of age - Br172,440. The lump-sum benefit for the birth of the first child will reach Br5,747,900, and for the birth of the second and subsequent children, Belarusian families will receive Br8,047,060. The lump-sum benefit for a woman who registered with a state healthcare organisation before the 12th week of pregnancy will amount to Br574,790 from November of this year. We remind you that in Belarus, child benefits in connection with the birth of a child doubled from October 1. This is stipulated by Decree No. 416 of September 15 of this year. For children born from October 1, the benefit is paid in the following amounts: for the birth of the first child - 10 SMB, for the birth of the second and subsequent children - 14 SMB. In addition, for the birth of twins, an additional lump-sum payment for the purchase of essential baby items is provided for each child in the amount of twice the subsistence minimum budget (this assistance is paid at the labour, employment and social protection authority at the place of residence). In Belarus, by July 1 of this year, the system of state benefits covered approximately 426.1 thousand children under 18 years of age (24.4% of the country's child population). -0-

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