The beneficiaries have benefited from the quarantine: they are happy to receive money and do not need to work.

The village roads are frozen as glass, covered with snow in many places, and no workers were found.

During a pandemic, beneficiaries do not get tired, they receive benefits that do not need to work for, a paradise like never before.

So what do I do for a retiree? I will not sprinkle salt while walking against myself, ”a man told LNK news in the Panevėžys district.

The Panevėžys district municipality criticizes the instruction of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor (SADM) to stop working to obtain security benefits during quarantine.

It was said that during the first wave of the pandemic there was also such a recommendation, but after the second wave, the municipality and the elders asked for the work to be returned, but did not receive approval.

“It just came to our knowledge then. Because anyway, they never work in squads, they work in multiples. And it’s in a situation where there is snow that you have to clear the slopes, the cemetery or something else. It is possible to call someone one by one. one, let’s say a job. There is no threat of infection, “Virginija Savickienė, director of the Panevėžys District Social Support Department, told LNK News.

For example, there are up to 30 social benefit recipients in the Ramygala nursing home. This means that both helpers could be clearing snow and spreading sand at this point.

Now, sadly, the worries of winter are on the shoulders of the elderly. And they can only take care of the main streets of the town. In less crowded towns, tours are only available on request.

“We will use the money to clear the snow, after that we will not have to level the roads,” said Vaidas Chirv, an elder from Ramygala.

He admits that often there is nothing left to do but talk to the beneficiary to voluntarily agree to help. In other words, move on. Because once the quarantine is over, the beneficiaries will still have to work for it.

According to the municipality, there are about 900 beneficiaries in the Panevėžys district. Quarantine is an exceptionally free time for everyone.

“They receive money and there is no need to work for it, there is no need to work for the benefit of society. When, in fact, all the other employees go to work, ”said V. Savickienė, director of the Panevėžys district social support department.

Although the views of the municipality and the ministry on the cardinal benefits of quarantine benefits differ dramatically, the instructions cannot be ignored.