The period for granting crisis benefits extended until the end of the year

The period during which the local government grants and pays a crisis benefit in the amount specified in the local government’s binding regulations has been extended until 31 December 2021. The extension of the period of validity of this benefit is provided for in the draft law “Amendments to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance”, which was adopted at the government meeting on Wednesday, 14 July. The Saeima still has to vote on it.

A crisis benefit is granted, based on an assessment of the information available in the information systems of the state and local governments, to a household or an individual in a household whose income has significantly decreased or been lost due to the state of emergency declared in connection with the spread of Covid-19. The local government increases the amount of the benefit payable by 50 euros per month for each child if a household, including a foster family or a guardian, entitled to a crisis benefit has a child under 18 years of age in its care;

The local government does not grant a crisis benefit to an individual living separately or for an individual in a household who, in accordance with regulatory enactments, has been granted downtime support. The local government does not increase the crisis benefit payable, or reduces it by the corresponding amount, for the period during which a person receiving downtime support has, in accordance with regulatory enactments, been granted a supplement for a dependent child;

To partially compensate local governments for the expenses of providing crisis benefits, the state provides local governments with an earmarked grant to cover expenses amounting to 50 percent of the benefit paid to a household, but no more than 75 euros per person per month. To compensate local governments for the expenses of increasing the benefit payable by 50 euros per month for each child under 18 years of age in their care, the state provides local governments with an earmarked grant to cover 100 percent of the increase in the benefit paid to a household, including a foster family or a guardian, entitled to a crisis benefit.

Author:

Ministry of Welfare

lm.gov.lv