Social allowance for diapers to be issued in Belarus from April 1 - Ministry of Labor

March 29, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. A social benefit for diapers will be provided in Belarus from April 1. This was announced by Anatoly Razhanets, Head of the Department of State Social Support for the Population of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, during an online conference held on the websites of BELTA and the ministry. In accordance with Decree No. 41 of January 19, 2012, "On State Targeted Social Assistance" (STSA), a social benefit to reimburse the costs of purchasing diapers will be provided to children with disabilities under 18 years of age who have a 4th degree of health loss, as well as to Group I disabled persons (except for persons whose disability resulted from unlawful acts, due to alcoholic, drug, or toxic intoxication, or self-harm). Anatoly Razhanets emphasized that this social benefit will be provided regardless of the average per capita income of the family (citizen) based on the individual rehabilitation program of the disabled person or the conclusion of the medical advisory commission of a state healthcare organization on the need for diapers, as well as documents confirming the costs of their purchase. According to the Ministry of Health's assessment, about 20,000 disabled persons need diapers. Until now, Group I disabled persons in need have not been provided with diapers, stressed the representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. Rita Sushko, Head of the Department for Disabled Persons of the Department of State Social Support for the Population of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, noted that STSA is of an application-based nature and its provision requires a corresponding application with the attached documents confirming the need for a specific type of targeted assistance. In her opinion, providing a copy of a cash (sales) receipt from pharmacies, legal entities regardless of ownership, and individual entrepreneurs located in the republic, with the mandatory indication of the purchased product's name, is justified. Responding to the question of why "social welfare offices cannot provide diapers to disabled persons," Rita Sushko reasonably remarked that "it is not the social welfare office, but the disabled person themselves who knows best what brand (manufacturer) and size of diaper suits them." She emphasized that the decree does not stipulate that citizens must purchase diapers of domestic production only. Given that the decree was issued on January 19, 2012, and comes into force on April 1 of the current year, documents confirming the costs of purchasing diapers incurred in the current year 2012 will be accepted for the provision of the social benefit to reimburse these costs. -0-