site.btaNew Type of Allowance Proposed for Families of Children Who Have Lost a Parent

Sofia, August 1 (BTA) - Families of children who have lost a parent may receive a new type of monthly allowance, beginning in 2019, Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov told journalists in the Council of Ministers offices on Wednesday. This will become a fact after the Family Allowances for Children Act is amended, Petkov said. A bill of amendment was approved by the Council of Ministers earlier in the day.

The new type of allowance will be provided on condition that the respective child is not entitled to receive an inherited or personal pension. Another proposed condition is that the family income does not exceed a certain threshold. The threshold will be aligned with the one already in place for the other benefits available under the Family Allowances for Children Act, which is currently 450 leva per family member per month. The threshold will be set every year through the State Budget Act. Furthermore, the respective children will be required to attend kindergarten or school, depending on their age.

The proposed allowance will benefit an estimated 5,600 kids, Petkov said. At present, 2,700 children receive a personal pension through the public state insurance scheme. It will be up to their families to choose whether to keep that pension or whether to receive the new type of allowance instead. The new allowance will be larger than the personal pension for orphans, which is currently 113 leva a month, the minister said.