Social protection, towards reformatting - Increasing support for the disabled and reducing beneficiaries of economic assistance
The number of beneficiaries of economic assistance is expected to decrease by about 1,000 families during the years 2026-2027. By 2028, the number of beneficiary families and individuals is expected to drop to 59,000.
This is a government initiative, aimed at integrating working-age members into the labor market.
At the same time, support for people with disabilities and their caregivers is expected to expand. The number of beneficiaries is expected to increase from 94,000 in 2026 to 98,000 in 2028, as part of the implementation of the new biopsychosocial model of disability assessment, according to World Health Organization standards. The new approach aims to combine payments with social care services.
The document also foresees the strengthening of social enterprises, aiming to employ an average of 150 people per year from disadvantaged groups, with a fund of around 80 million lek over the period 2026–2028. The objective is that by 2028, the number of employees in these enterprises will reach 5% of the working-age members who are part of the economic assistance scheme. The expansion is also foreseen for territorial social services. The number of beneficiaries from the Social Fund is expected to increase from 11 thousand in 2025 to 15 thousand in 2028. Meanwhile, support for local units aims to provide 95 to 115 social services in municipalities, with an average fund of 400 to 450 million lek, while the number of beneficiary municipalities is expected to increase from 43 to 61 municipalities by 2028.
Several special categories remain in focus. The protection policy for unemployed women with three or more children provides that the period of care for a child up to the age of 5 years is recognized as an insurance period for old-age and maternity pensions. This measure is intended to benefit 8,700 women in 2028, up from 8,300 foreseen in 2026, with an average fund of about 870 million lek.
It is also expected that the number of women and girls in need reintegrated after treatment in social care institutions will increase, as well as the expansion of support for Roma and Egyptian families, from 2,400 families in 2025 to 2,700 families in 2028.
Overall, these policies aim for a combination of financial support, reintegration into the labor market, and expansion of social services in the territory, with the aim of turning assistance into an instrument for greater social inclusion and independence.
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