Allowances of socially vulnerable groups to be raised from January 1, 2019

Armenian acting deputy labor and social affairs minister Arsen Manukyan presented at the cabinet sitting today a bill on making changes in the 2013 December 26 decision of the Armenian government.

He said the bill is aimed at overcoming the extreme poverty of socially vulnerable clusters of the population.

“Retirement benefit makes 16,000 AMD, 1st degree disability allowances make 21,500 AMD, 2d degree 19,000 AMD and 3d degree 16,000 AMD,” he said, adding that in case of losing breadwinner 16,000 allowance is provided.

“The food extreme poverty line in Armenia in 2019 is predicted 25,500 AMD. Taking into consideration our goal to exclude extreme poverty a decision has been made to make corresponding changes in the bill,” the acting deputy minister said.

The changes offer setting 18,000 AMD as military pension for servicemen with 3d degree disability, 24,000 AMD military pension for members of families of killed conscripts and 25,500 AMD retirement, disability allowances and 25,500 AMD allowance if losing breadwinner .

Manukyan said the decision will enter into force from January 1, 2019.

First acting deputy PM Ararat Mirzoyan described it as a very important initiative.

Summing up he said, that from January 1 socially vulnerable groups that till now have been receiving 16,000 AMD, 19,000 AMD will receive 25,500 from January 1. “It is the minimal sum necessary for a person not to stay hungry,” Mirzoyan said.