May 4, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. In Belarus, the amounts of state benefits for families raising children have increased by 15.6% since May of this year. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the main department of employment policy and population of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. According to specialists, Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 553 of April 28 of this year approved the subsistence minimum budget per capita at Br343,260, which is 15.6% higher than the standard that was in effect from February 1 to April 30, 2011 (it was Br296,870). Thus, from May 1 to July 31 of the current year, the monthly child care allowance for a child under three years of age is Br343,260, and for a child over three years of age - Br102,980. The lump-sum benefit for the birth of the first child will reach Br1,716,300, and for the birth of the second and subsequent children, Belarusian families will receive Br2,402,820. The lump-sum benefit for a woman who registered with a state healthcare organization before the 12th week of pregnancy is Br343,260 from May of this year. As of January 1, 2011, the system of state benefits covered approximately 448.8 thousand children under 18 years of age (25.3% of the country's child population). -0-

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