Latvian residents will low-income status will still receive two packages of food products this year. However, this practice will be phased out gradually.
The Ministry of Welfare explains such changes by the lack of funds from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). As of this year, therefore, only those with low-income household status and those in crisis, including Ukrainian refugees, will be included among the recipients of food package aid.
The government has agreed that the provision of food aid to the most underprivileged part of society – residents of Latvia and Ukrainian residents with low-income status – is an absolute priority, the implementation of which should continue to receive additional funding.
From the 1st of January onward, there will be new thresholds established to better define low-income status.
The maximum amount of the income threshold for a low-income household for the first or only person in the household is EUR 604 instead of the previous EUR 549, and for other persons in the household – EUR 423 instead of the previous EUR 384. In turn, the threshold of income of a poor household for the first or only person in the household is EUR 377 (so far – EUR 343), while for other persons – EUR 264 (so far – EUR 240).
The Ministry of Welfare notes that expenditure on the purchase of food aid accounts for 87% of the total expenditure on the purchase of aid in the ESF+ programme. Therefore, significant optimisation of expenditures has been possible only in the part of food expenditures. Other forms of support –hygiene, household, food, child care, and school supplies – have little financial impact, so these forms of support were not reviewed.
The data collected by the Ministry shows that in 2024, the number of all eligible persons each month was about 55 000, reaching as many as about 60 000 people in the winter period. Trends suggest that this number will not change in the near future. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs predicts an increase in the number of first-time residents of Ukraine from 6 000 to 10 000. Some of them could also qualify for additional aid.
From 2021 to 2023, the amount of food aid distributed to the most deprived people in Latvia exceeded 400 000 food kits per year. In addition, in 2022 and 2023, more than 153 000 sets of groceries were distributed to the people of Ukraine.
From 2021 to 2023, the amount of food aid distributed to the poorest people in Latvia exceeded 400 000 food packages per year. In addition, in 2022 and 2023, more than 153 000 food packages were distributed to Ukrainian refugees.
Since 2024, the content of the grocery set has been optimized, so its price has decreased by 4.2% – from EUR 26.47 to EUR 25.37.