Bulgarian Minister of Labor: State Will Further Support Pensioners and Families with Children

In April, Bulgarian retirees with a pension ranging from BGN 300.01 up to BGN 369, which is392 000 people, will receive additional BGN 120 for food. That would cost the state budget about BGN 47 million. With this BGN 120 they will have the opportunity to buy whatever they need, the money is targeted specifically for food products. This is what Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva told The Monitor daily.

"We chose this group of people because they will have a pension below the poverty line. People with a minimum pension are not included because they are most privileged after a pension increase because they receive a 20% surplus. Pensioners with maximum pensions are also benefiting, other pensioners are getting a 5% increase from July, and those with pensions from BGN 300 to BGN 369 need support and that is why we have provided a one-time BGN 120 bonus for them.

The National Social Security Agency will give a list of these people to the Agency for Social Assistance and the ASA will transfer the money to people so they have it available in April. We have paid heed to criticism that we should support people with low pensions through the welfare system," she said.

About 480,000 food packages were handed out to those in need, and 4,000 people have been fed in the country's public dining rooms. "Both types of support programs will continue during the new year. According to the latest figures, the support measure for families with children up to 14 years of age applies to more than 23 000 people and the funds paid out under it are close to BGN 20 million.

Under the Employed Parents support measure, 6,000 families received funds enabling them to hire a babysitter. I draw attention to the fact that we have increased unemployment...