In Belarus, it is planned to include benefits for children over 3 years old in the system of targeted social assistance

March 29, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. Belarus plans to include in the system of state targeted social assistance (GASР) benefits for children over three years of age and free provision of food for children under two years of age. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Valentina Koroleva today at an online conference held on the websites of BELTA and the ministry. Valentina Koroleva noted that such measures are provided for by the Program of Activities of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015. At the same time, it is planned that the free provision of food for children under two years of age will be allocated as a separate social benefit. The Deputy Minister recalled that since January 1, 2010, in accordance with Decree No. 458 "On State Targeted Social Assistance," non-cash housing subsidies to the population have not been provided. At the same time, one of the goals of assigning GASP in the form of monthly and one-time social benefits has become the payment (in full or in part) of housing and communal services. Based on the results of last year, state targeted social assistance was assigned to 165.4 thousand people in the amount of Br50.8 billion, of which Br586 million was directed to pay for housing and communal services. As for changing the eligibility criterion for providing state targeted social assistance in the form of monthly and one-time social benefits, such an issue is not currently being considered. -0-