Cold-month assistance for low-income families

The families with monthly incomes per member lower than the sum resulting after multiplying the state guarantied minimum income by the coefficient 1.6 can apply for cold-month assistance from January 1, 2013. Until now the coefficient was 1.4, Info-Prim Neo reports. The given amendment to the Law on State Benefit was approved by the Government on December 6. At practical level, the benefit will be given to families with monthly incomes that do not exceed 1,024 lei per member. The decision to allocate the assistance is taken by the social workers who assess the property of the applicants. A number of persons said they were unable to get state benefit because they had TV set and fridge at home, even if they were bought many years ago. The benefit remained unchanged. i.e. 1,200 lei for five month or 240 lei a month.