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Viloli’s Anatolijus is a senior, and his pension is higher than average: 500 euros. However, having that monthly income in the capital, he said, would be difficult. So, although health and opportunities still allow it, the man seeks to earn and works as a guard of the minimum wage.
“It just came to our attention then. I could live modestly, maybe enough gas for a ride. I don’t go to resorts,” says the man.
This month, Sodra will already pay all older adults unique benefits of 200 euros, which the Seimas decided to grant them due to inconveniences and financial losses during the quarantine. Anatoly is already considering where to use this extra money.
Where will I spend it? Here in Lithuania little by little. I want to go to Šventoji, Palanga for 5 days, “he says.
The government hopes that the additional € 200 allowance for the elderly will at least compensate for the inconvenience and losses suffered during the quarantine. People don’t hide the much higher costs they incur:
“I broke my tooth, it will take a thousand.”
“I paid 400 for Veryga to treat my wife.”
“I will save.”
Sodra promises to start paying one-time benefits of 200 euros on Thursday of this week and pay the benefits to everyone before August 12.
“Payments will start this week. The number of payments almost doubles. Along with periodic pensions, you will receive benefits. Therefore, we spread the payment schedule over several days. Some will receive one day earlier than usual, a small portion will receive a day later, “says Malgožata Kozič, a representative of Sodra.
Almost a million people will receive benefits. So are those who are not yet retired, but who will become them by the end of this year. In total, the Seimas allocated around 180 million of the budget for these distributions. Euro Lump-sum benefits will be available not only for all old-age pensioners, but also for those receiving early retirement pensions, as well as for the disabled, orphans and other beneficiaries of social assistance and social benefits.
“The benefit was designed to promote consumption. Life had stopped during the quarantine. To compensate for the costs incurred, people had to buy protective equipment, disinfectant fluids, masks. They were very expensive, “said Eglė Samoškaitė, representative of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor.
Although the government claims that the benefits are intended to make life easier for older people during the quarantine, they are paid only two months before the October parliamentary elections.
President Gitanas Nausėda offered to pay the aid earlier, noting that the time of the benefits coincided with the start of the electoral campaign.
The Seimas opposition proposed to increase these benefits to 375 euros and start paying the money in June. Governors say it was not possible to pay money before. So economists also see a great political spice in profit sharing.
“It is not appropriate to pay benefits. Retirees’ incomes have not decreased, and consumer expectations are the best in the EU in July. Spoons in the afternoon. If it was convenient to apply the benefit, it is in May-June, but not in August, “says economist Sigismund Mauricas.
Although the Lithuanian economy grew before quarantine, pensions increased, so the Department of Statistics points out that it is not enough, which has even increased poverty. In evaluating preliminary poverty indicators from last year, the department notes that last year the risk of poverty rate increased in Lithuania, especially among people of retirement age.
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