ARMENIAN SYSTEM OF BENEFITS NEEDS SUBSTANTIAL REVISION
ARKA
Nov 27, 2009
YEREVAN, November 27. /ARKA/. Armenian system of benefits needs
substantial reconsideration, Hakob Hakobyan, chairman of National
Assembly’s standing committee on social affairs, said Thursday at a
press conference.
He thinks faults of the system leaves room for persons having stable
earnings to submit forged papers and receive benefits.
Hakobyan said more than 16,000 illegal beneficiaries were removed
from lists in 2009 alone that as a result of scrutiny.
He said that the government can’t help those in need while illegal
beneficiaries remain included in the lists.
He said that Armenia has 100,000 poor people whose pension or benefit
amount to AMD 8,000.
The government earmarked AMD 242.4 billion in the 2010 state budget
for social expenses.
The share of social expenses in GDP is 7.5%.
The government earmarked AMD 31 billion for paying benefits to
low-income families in 2010 against this year’s 32.3 billion.
One family benefit will average AMD 23,000 in 2010.
The lump-sum state benefit for third birth in a family was left
unchanged at AMD 430,000.
The monthly benefit for care of up-to-two-year-old babies was left
unchanged as well – at AMD 18,000.
Pensions remained the same and even rose due to changes in rates.
Pension will amount to AMD 25,700 in 2010 against 25,500 now.
Basic pension is set at AMD 8,000 for 2010.
The 2010 state budget revenue is AMD 676.6 billion, expenditure AMD
859.6 billon and deficit AMD 183 billion.
One dollar is expected to cost AMD 376 in 2010.