ONLY 7.3% OF ARMENIANS EXTREMELY POOR

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. Only 7.3% of Armenian citizens are
extremely poor says the head of the social assistance department of
Armenia’s Labour and Social Security Ministry Astgik Minasyan.

These are people scoring 41.01 and more points of eligibility for
poverty allowance. The families with such an index will get 6,000 AMD +
4,000 per child in Mar 2005, while families living in highlands and
borderline regions will get 4,500 AMD. Large families – 6 children
or more – will get 22,000-24,000 AMD.

The families scoring 38.01-41 points will get 6,000 AMD + 3,500 AMD
per child and 4,000 AMD for highland and borderline region residents.
34 or less point scorers will get 6,000 AMD plus 3,000 AMD and 3,500
AMD respectively. This year the beneficiary families with a new born
child will get 70,000 AMD instead of 35,000 AMD. The additional 35,000
AMD can be received at office or regional social services.

Last year 135,000 families got poverty benefits. Some 20 bln AMD has
budgeted to this end this year against 16 bln AMD last year.