Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission has supported the Progressive Party proposal for higher child support payments, linking them to the minimum wage.
In the discussions of the commission on Tuesday, the 6th of May, it was noted that the law could provide that the norm enters into force from the 1st of January so that the necessary funding could be included in the 2024 state budget.
The final decision on supporting the proposal will have to be taken at the Saeima session.
The supported Progressive’s proposal envisages until a permanent regulation is adopted, to establish that 25% of the minimum wage is paid from the Maintenance Guarantee Fund (UGF) for each child from birth to the age of seven.
For each child from seven to 18 years of age and for each adult from 18 to 21 years of age, 30% will be paid,
but no more than the amount specified in the court ruling or agreement on maintenance.
Also, Progressive’s proposal provides that the Cabinet of Ministers will have to develop a permanent regulation so that the amount of child support paid from the UGF is equivalent to the minimum amount of child support that every parent, regardless of their ability to support a child and the state of their property, is obliged to provide for each of their children.
The Commission also supported the proposal that the Cabinet of Ministers will have to review the amount of maintenance allowances to be paid from the UGF at least once a year, taking into account the possibilities of the state budget.
Amendments to the Maintenance Guarantee Fund Law also provide for facilitating the obtaining of information from credit information bureaus about other obligations undertaken by maintenance debtors.
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