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The Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva revealed details about the vouchers that pensioners will receive in April, in an interview with Monitor. He commented on the crisis over the pandemic and made a forecast for 2021. See what the Minister of Social Affairs said:
– Minister Sacheva, in April the retirees with a pension of 300.01 BGN. up to BGN 369 will receive vouchers worth BGN 120, how will they receive them and where will they use them?
– We gave up the idea of vouchers. In April, retirees with a pension of BGN 300.01. up to 369 BGN, which is 392,000 people, will receive a supplement of 120 BGN for their alimony. This will cost around BGN 47 million. With this money, 120 BGN, they will have the opportunity to buy what they need, the money is given specifically for food.
We choose these people because they will have a pension below the poverty line. People with a minimum pension are not included because they are the most privileged in this case of a pension increase because they receive an increase of 20%. Pensioners with maximum pensions also benefit, the other pensioners receive a 5% increase from July, and these people with pensions from BGN 300.01 to BGN 369 need support and that is why we have provided them with a one-time fee of BGN 120 for them.
The National Institute of Social Security will deliver a list to the Social Assistance Agency with these people, and the ASA will transfer the money to the people so that they have it in April. We have taken into account the criticism that low pensions should be supported through the social assistance system.
– Last 2020 was different given the crisis with the coronavirus, did social measures cover those most affected by this crisis?
– The data shows that we try to respond to all the main target groups. I put the most vulnerable people first. We take care of them with food, a hot lunch, as well as food packages. More than 32,000 adults, people with disabilities and people in quarantine received supplies of food and medicine, as well as assistance in the provision of administrative services from the clientelism care teams. At BGN 85 million, the service will continue in 2021. More than 30,000 adults and low-income people received a hot lunch, and with an additional BGN 27 million their number will reach 50,000 this year.
Approximately 480,000 are the food packages that we distribute and 4,000 were eaten in public dining rooms in the country. Both types of support will continue next year.
According to the latest data, the measure for families with children under the age of 14 has covered more than 23,000 people and the funds paid amount to almost BGN 20 million. Under the Parents in Employment measure, 6,000 families received funds to hire a nanny.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have increased unemployment benefits from BGN 9 to BGN 12, and we have also changed the period within which these benefits can be received from 4 to 7 months. More than 250,000 jobs were reserved under the 60/40 measure and another 30,000 were reserved under the 80/20 measure.
More than 2 million pensioners have received BGN 50 supplements to their pensions since August. More than 664,000 people with permanent disabilities received financial support each month. I list all this because there are still dissatisfied people, but even so, what we have done is not a small amount of work that we have done with colleagues and it is good to evaluate what is being done.
– The new 2021. Will it be easier for the social system?
– It certainly won’t be easier this year, surely there will be new challenges. There will continue to be reflections of the crisis, which will be reflected in business and in the economic and social environment. We are ready for the 60/40 measure to last until September, but for the support to be much more focused and probably not as generous as it is now.
– Anticipating the pressures on the social system, do you expect an increase in unemployment and what are the mechanisms to face it?
– Certainly, we expect some growth in unemployment this year, as many companies are transforming, digitization has occurred rapidly and not everyone is ready for it. This is something for which we will bet together with the Ministry of Economy. We are considering funds with opportunities to organize safe and healthy working conditions, as well as teleworking and teleworking, which will require investment in terms of cybersecurity, infrastructure, techniques will be needed for the purchase of equipment.
Digitization is one of the solutions to reduce unemployment, but it is also a process full of new challenges. In the recovery plan, we contemplate the construction of a large National Professional Training Platform, which will allow a rapid reconversion.
There are many people who are beginning to think about changing jobs as well as changing professions, as some sectors will not recover quickly, such as tourism and hospitality.
It was the people who worked there who decided to look for work in other sectors and areas. Therefore, digital skills training in so-called social skills related to making people more resilient will also be part of our priorities this year.
There will be specific measures and programs for the unemployed, such as “Employment for you”, which will also operate this year, allowing employers to hire unemployed people for whom the state pays a minimum wage, which will amount to 650 BGN, together with insurance, and the employer can pay his employee additionally, if the opportunity exists. This type of measurement will be combined with learning measures, because lifelong learning transforms from a beautiful phrase into an objective reality, because dynamic changes require it.
– Since we are talking about education, how long will the support for families whose children do not attend school due to the pandemic last?
-We have fully secured the need for this assistance by the end of this school year, June 30th. Parents will be able to use it. 73 million BGN has been reserved for 2021, and the total amount is 80 million BGN for the entire school year. Parents can apply for any period their children are in online training or quarantined.
– How did you help children in social services during the pandemic?
With almost 1 million BGN, we provided the opportunity for 1,800 children and youth from social services to participate in distance learning. They received free computers, laptops, tablets, routers and internet.
– Vaccination in nursing homes is yet to come – how will it be organized and how will an informed decision be made when some of the residents have mental and physical disabilities?
– We have already started to send lists of people who have given their consent, this is around 15,000 people and separately about 11,000 people. As soon as there are enough vaccines, vaccination will start with them, but only after informed consent. For people with mental illness or dementia, the consent of their guardian will be sought.
– Who will control the vaccination process in these institutions?
– Vaccination between RHI and social institutions will be monitored jointly. People with mental and physical disabilities are at the center of our attention, we have managed to limit the spread of the epidemic and are currently doing well.
– In June, the first 17,000 women will receive a second pension, are they damaged?
– They are definitely not damaged. We also take concrete measures for them, through the social security law we gave them the opportunity to transfer their money either to the National Institute of Social Security or to another fund. The decision for this is very personal, everyone must judge for themselves in the circumstances in which they find themselves. I advise everyone to read and get enough information from the NSSI website.
There is a calculator that would accurately determine the amount of the pension based on the length of service and income of each person. We have also taken measures to reduce the reduction rate, which favors the pensions of those women who will be the first to retire. Political decisions allow people with second pensions not to be at a disadvantage, quite the contrary: we protect their interests.
– What would you advise people? How and where to transfer your second pensions, do not you think that the information is scarce and people are confused?
– The two systems of NSSI and UPF are interconnected and are complementary. From their good coordination and association there is the possibility of better pensions for people, each decision is individual, that is why it is difficult for me to give advice, because a lot depends on whether someone was insured with the minimum wage or with a higher income. I am insured both in universal funds and in the National Institute of Social Security, this is my personal choice. It is a common financial education, in which we all have to work a little more so that people can manage their money in the best way and with ease. Pension companies must carry out a better information campaign to inform people about the opportunities that are presented to them.
– The 2021 budget was established as a people’s budget, but why was motherhood kept frozen?
– Bulgaria is one of the EU countries with the longest maternity leave – 410 days, we promote maternity, but on the other hand we also promote a faster return to the labor market. Most young women prefer to go back to work. By raising money for the second year of motherhood, I don’t think we are boosting the birth rate. We must realize that the youth of our country have different patterns of professional and personal life.
– There are those, however, who have nowhere to leave their child because he is not in kindergarten. Don’t they have many options?
– In the Preschool and School Education Act we have agreed to provide assistance to parents whose children are not admitted to kindergarten, this assistance is 300 BGN.
– What is your personal balance for 2020 and what will be your most important decision for 2021?
– My personal balance is quite satisfactory, but also self-critical. 2020 was extremely difficult, but sometimes difficulties help you better understand the people around you, during these years my colleagues and I try all the time to be well intentioned and to help people. The expectations for us were excessive, but we did our best.
One of my most important decisions, as a minister until the end of his term, is the continuation of the 60/40 and 80/20 measure until the end of September, this is coming. It is important to be fair and moderate so that the company does not become dependent on the state. I am thinking about this difficult decision, which I have to make by March, and then the elections are approaching, and I will also have to make very difficult elections.
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