Mechanism for granting social welfare improved

The money earned in agricultural activities by families that consist only of non able-bodied members (disabled, persons older than 75) will not be taken into account in setting and paying social welfare. This is stipulated in the amendments introduced by the Government to the Decision of April 16, 2008 on the fixing and payment of benefits, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga, a number of difficulties and shortcomings were identified while implementing the Law on Social Welfare. The amendments are designed to improve the mechanism for providing benefits. “There are elderly persons and invalids who own land, but cannot cultivate it, while the persons who could rent this land are not interested in this. Thus, we decided the money that they receive from cultivating the land will not be taken into account,” Buliga said. The amendments define a number of terms, like 'family' – two or more related or non-related persons who live together - and 'separated family' – two or more persons who have different budgets even if they live in the same house or apartment, at the same address as other families. The social welfare for an entitled family is 530 lei.