ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ENLARGES SIZES OF POVERTY AND BIRTH BENEFITS

ARKA
Jan 15, 2009

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. Armenian Government enlarged sizes of
benefits for low-income families and birth benefit on Thursday.

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Arsen Hambartsumyan said the basic
family benefit was enlarged from AMD 8,000 to AMD 10,000 and a lump-sum
benefit for newborn babies was increased from AMD 35,000 to AMD 50,000.

The benefit for the birth of the third and a next child rose from AMD
400,000 to 430,000 and the monthly benefit for care of a baby in age
under two years reached AMD 18,000 against former AMD 3,000.

The government set AMD 250,000 benefit for families of perished
national heroes and AMD 150,000 and AMD 100,000 for holders of first-
and second-degree Warrior Cross.

The Government also set rules for benefit payment and inclusion of
women in the group of single mothers.

Hambartsumyan pointed out the necessity to specify criteria for
eligibility to receive a single-mom benefit, since there are already
11,000 so-called single mothers in Armenia now.

The minister also said that the Government makes every effort to
prevent the benefit enlargement from affecting pensions. ($1 = AMD
305.48).