Latvian state will pay EUR 50 a month for every child and student under the age of 24 years for a period of four months – January to April, as provided by the Law on Emergency Energy Price Reduction Measures passed by the government on 25 January.
Payment of this benefit will cost EUR 79 587 200.
The expected number of recipients of is 397 936. This includes 17 383 children under the age of one year, 349 754 children for which families receive state support, 505 orphans, 178 minors with alternative status, 27 482 students 18 to 24 years of age who continue studies, 2 581 children 16-17 years of age who are not engaged in studies and 53 children under parent submission.
Benefits for students who have reached the age of 18 years will be paid to the person directly.
Additionally, to ensure the payment of the benefit, it is necessary to secure State Social Insurance Agency’s IT systems. Changes to IT systems will cost EUR 23 595.
This means the total necessary financing amount is estimated at EUR 79 610 795.
During the government meeting the representative of Latvian Students Union Kristafers Zeiļuks mentioned he does not understand the reason why married students are ignored benefit-wise. Minister of Welfare Gatis Eglītis said in response that a clarification may be considered.
PM Krišjānis Kariņš and Minister of Finance Jānis Reirs said such a proposal would not be supported. Reirs explained that if the government supports the proposal from Latvian Students Union, it would be necessary to perform recalculation and mention it in the annotation, which means it would not be possible to pass the law on Tuesday. He also mentioned that expanding benefits would mean increasing the country’s external debt.
Members of the government also refused to support Zeiļuks’ proposal to increase the annual threshold until which students can access support.
The Saeima will need to pass the Law on Emergency Energy Price Reduction Measures.
Latvian state to pay four-month benefit for children and students
