The families on low incomes can already submit applications for receiving cold-month allowances to the local social worker. According to the authorities, the applications must be filed beforehand so as not to miss the allowance for November as the benefit is provided from the date the application is submitted and is not paid retroactively, IPN reports.

The recipients of cold-month allowances include the families on an average income lower than the state guaranteed minimum income per person (720 lei from November 1), pensioners, invalids and people out of work as well as persons caring for children younger than three, a family member with disability degree and disadvantaged families receiving social benefit.

In a communiqué, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family says that incomes of 200 lei will be ignored when calculating the incomes of deprived families with salaried members and of families looking after children younger than one year and a half in the case of non-insured persons and younger than three in the case of insured persons. The financial support received by families of pensioners on pensions lower than 1,500 lei will also not be taken into account.

The list of welfare indicators was modified, the color TV set, refrigerator, washing machine with manual program, vacuum cleaner and music box being excluded from it.

Cold-month allowances of 250 lei a month are offered for the period between November and March. About 80,000 families benefitted from such assistance in 2013.