Expanded range of recipients of the Latvian Honorary Family Certificate

From now on, the Latvian Honorary Family Certificate will be issued not only to large families, but also to families caring for a child with a disability or an adult who has not reached the age of 24, if that person has been assigned disability group I or II. In these families, there will also be no specified number of children required to receive the certificate, unlike in the case of a large family (at least three children).

The expanded range of recipients of the Honorary Family Certificate is established by Cabinet of Ministers Regulations “Procedure for Implementing the Latvian Honorary Family Certificate Programme”, which were adopted at a government meeting on 1 June.

The regulations also provide for a simplified application process. Specifically, an application for the certificate may also be submitted electronically through the unified state administration services portal latvija.lv.  The decision on whether to issue or refuse the certificate will be made significantly faster—in up to 14 days (currently, the period is 45 days). It is also planned to change the age from which a child is entitled to receive the certificate, namely by stipulating that the certificate may be issued to children from the age of six (currently, from the age of seven).

The conditions for using the certificate will be significantly relaxed by stipulating that a person will be entitled to use the certificate not only by presenting it together with a state-approved identity document or student ID, but also with a student ID or a valid driving licence (adult ID card).

In view of the addition of a new target group to the state support programme, the name of the programme is also being changed. Until now, it covered support only for large families, namely,  “Latvian Honorary Family Certificate “3+ Family Card”” will become “Latvian Honorary Family Certificate “Honored Family””. Certificates issued before these regulations enter into force will remain valid until their expiry dates. It is also planned to change the design and content of the certificate, which will make its everyday use more convenient by adding a QR code and a barcode.

The certificate provides an opportunity to receive the discounts and services provided for under the support programme, offered by service providers not only in Latvia but, in certain cases, also outside Latvia. Specifically, it is planned that during 2021 an agreement will be signed between the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the foundation and the Estonian Association of Large Families, establishing the opportunity to receive benefits with this certificate from participants in the Estonian and Lithuanian programmes as well.

In 2020, 58 379 certificates were issued. According to forecasts, the number of certificates issued in 2021 could also be of a similar magnitude.

Author:

Ministry of Welfare

lm.gov.lv