ArmInfo. A new system for assessing family poverty will be introduced in Armenia. At a meeting on July 11, the RA government approved draft amendments to the law "On State Benefits" and a package of related laws.
Presenting the package, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan noted that the documents are aimed at overcoming extreme poverty in the country by encouraging social activity of individuals. It is proposed, in particular, to introduce an allowance for insecure families instead of a family allowance. This benefit system will be available to those families whose monthly income is below the threshold bordering the level of insecurity corresponding to the minimum consumer basket. The size of this basket will be approved annually by the RA government.
According to the new system, the minister continued, the activation of the working population becomes a mandatory condition. In other words, when an able-bodied citizen applies for benefits, he will be offered not social financial assistance, but specific work. If a citizen refuses the proposed job, this will become grounds for refusal to provide benefits. If he agrees, he will be given time to receive benefits until he gets a job. In this regard, a new institution will be introduced, according to which an able-bodied but non-working family member will receive an assigned income, the amounts, terms and cases of application of which will be determined by a government decision. Thus, the number of times a citizen refuses a job offered by the state, the amount of ascribed income will increase. "It will then be obvious to everyone that if a person refuses an offered job, this means that he has another source of income," Mkrtchyan said.
He added that the package also provides for new mechanisms to prevent the deepening of extreme poverty. For example, sanctions will be applied to families that deprive their children of the opportunity to continue their education. Sanctions will also be applied to families who pledge their property, which will prevent the risk of new persons appearing without a specific place of residence.
The minister noted that the new system will be implemented in stages. It is planned to introduce it as a "pilot" in two regions, and if a positive result is obtained, it will be extended to the entire republic.
