Factsheet for measure
BG-2022-9/2179
–
Updated
– measures in Bulgaria
One-off assistance to persons displaced from Ukraine
Eднократни помощи на разселени от Украйна лица с предоставена временна закрила
Background information
Citizens of Ukraine who are registered for temporary protection in Bulgaria may receive a lump-sum aid under Article 16 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Social Assistance Act up to five times the guaranteed minimum income, i.e. up to BGN 375 (€192). The aid is granted based on an application-declaration form which is submitted to the Social Assistance Directorate at the address of their residence in Bulgaria.
The aid is granted per family, not per person.
In addition, the state provides a lump-sum financial support for issuance of a personal ID card.
Content of measure
Aid is granted on the basis of an application-declaration form submitted to Social Assistance Directorates at the residence address in Bulgaria with the following documents for reference:
-
Registration card of a foreigner with granted temporary protection in Bulgaria;
-
The identity document from Ukraine;
-
Address card of a foreigner issued by the Migration Directorate of District Department of Ministry of Interior or by the hotel where the person is staying.
When assessing eligibility, a social enquiry is carried out, during which all circumstances of a social, family, household and health nature, property status, etc. are ascertained.
The aid us under Art. 16 from the regulations for implementation of the Law on Social Assistance: Art. 16. (1) A one-time aid may be granted once a year to meet the occasional health, educational, utility and other vital needs of persons and families. (2) (amend. - SG 40/03, in force from 1 May 2003) The one-time aid under par. 1 up to five times the amount of the guaranteed minimum income shall be determined by an order of the director of the Social Assistance Directorate or an authorised official representative.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
|
01 June 2023
|
The lump-sum aid to Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Social Assistance Act. As of 1 June 2023, has been increased from BGN 375 (€192) to BGN 1,512 (€773) in line with the increase of the poverty line.
|
|
14 March 2023
|
According to the annual report of Social Assistance Agency (2022), the measure is implemented by the Social Assistance Agency, through its local structures, and voucher distribution will be continuing until the end of 2023.
|
|
21 February 2023
|
Operation BG05FMOP001-6.001 "Provision of vouchers to provide food and essential goods for displaced persons from Ukraine" provides individual vouchers (BGN 100). The identification of the persons from the target group (registration for granted temporary protection, certified by a document (registration card) issued by a competent Bulgarian authority after 24 February 2022) is carried out until the final date for providing the vouchers: 28 February 2023 (extended from the original end date of 20 April 2022).
|
Use of measure
From 24 February 2022 to 20 April 2022 a total of 12,888 applications-declarations were accepted. As a result, 8,030 one-off aids were granted, 48 refusals for granting the assistance were issued, and 4 applications under Article 16 from beneficiaries of temporary protection are under processing. According to the annual report of the Social Assistance Agency (2022) as of 31 December 2022, 31,662 vouchers have been granted and 26,243 vouchers have been redeemed in commercial network.
By 31 July 2023 Ukrainians with temporary protection who have been granted vouchers shall be also supported by Social Assistance Directorate in the form of counselling on their social rights under current legislation, opportunities for employment, consultation with specialists and medical expertise, referral to accommodation and etc., which would support their successful integration.
For the period from 24.02.2022 to 30.06.2023 the Social Assistance Directorates in the country have granted 51,590 one-off aids to Ukrainian citizens and their families for the total amount of BGN 17.7 million (€870,000).
Target groups
|
Workers
|
Businesses
|
Citizens
|
|
Does not apply to workers
|
Does not apply to businesses
|
Migrants or refugees
|
Actors and funding
|
Actors
|
Funding
|
National government
Social insurance
|
National funds
|
Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
|
Trade unions
|
Employers' organisations
|
|
Role
|
No involvement
|
No involvement
|
|
Form
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
No involvement
-
Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Social partners are not involved in designing, implementing or monitoring of this aid. The aid is according to The regulation of Law of Social Assistance. The main aim is to support people coming from Ukraine through financial aid and a one-time sum for issuance of personal ID. With temporary protection, they could start working, participate in education, and benefit from social support.
Views and reactions
The views of social partners on this measure are not expressed publicly.
Sources
-
11 November 1998: ПРАВИЛНИК ЗА ПРИЛАГАНЕ НА ЗАКОНА ЗА СОЦИАЛНО ПОДПОМАГАНЕ
(refugees.farbg.eu)
-
20 February 2022: Social Support for Ukrainians in Bulgaria
(ukraine.gov.bg)
-
20 February 2022: Social Support for people coming from Ukraine
(www.mlsp.government.bg)
-
15 March 2022: Issuance of Temporary Protection
(ukraine.gov.bg)
-
20 April 2022: Information on accepted applications and one-time grants
(ukraine.gov.bg)
-
21 February 2023: Help with vouchers
(asp.government.bg)
-
14 March 2023: Social Assistance Report 2022
(asp.government.bg)
-
18 July 2023: It is not true that almost BGN 1 billion from the budget was spent on Ukrainian refugees
(bnr.bg)
-
26 January 2024: Budgetary expenses for Ukrainian refugees in our country in 2023 will reach BGN 26 million.
(www.investor.bg)
