Background information

The crises generated by the SARS-COV-2 virus, the liberalization of energy prices, as well as conflict in Ukraine have caused dramatic effects on the economy. In this context, the government adopted a measure that provides that vulnerable categories will receive social tickets for food of RON 250 (€50) every two months.

Content of measure

The categories of vulnerable persons receiving material support in the form of social vouchers issued on electronic media are:

• pensioners of the public pension system, pensioners registered in the sectoral pension funds and beneficiaries of rights provided by special laws, paid by the territorial pension funds / sectoral pension funds, whose own monthly net income is less than or equal to RON 1,500 (€300);
• persons with a severe, accentuated or moderate degree of disability, whose own monthly net income is less than or equal to RON 1,500 (€300);
• families with at least two dependent children whose net monthly income per family member is less than or equal to RON 600 (€120)
• single-parent families whose net monthly income per family member is less than or equal to RON 600 (€120);
• families who have established the right to social assistance under the conditions of Law no. 416/2001 regarding the guaranteed minimum income;
• homeless persons as they are regulated according to the legal provisions in force;
• persons up to 18 years of age in the care of those families whose average income per family member is below the value of the minimum guaranteed income in payment provided by Law 416/2001 on social assistance with subsequent amendments and completions;

The budget of the measure is RON 4 billion, sources financed from non-reimbursable external funds and from the state budget.

Use of measure

It is estimated that three million people who will benefit from these vouchers every two months, amongst which 2.3 million pensioners whose own monthly net income is less than or equal with RON 1,500 (€300) and about 400,000 persons with a severe, severe or moderate degree of disability, whose own monthly net income is less than or equal to RON 1,500 (€300).

In mid-June 2023, the Ministry of Investment transferred 590 million lei (approx. €119 million) to supply 2,36 million social cards, the seventh tranche of aid to vulnerable people and in mid-October about 625 million lei (approx. €126 million) were transferred to 2,5 million vulnerable people.

In January 2024, the Government issued Decision 70/2024 which keeps the value of the voucher from the previous year, RON (approx. €50), and will be granted every two months. New provisions are included which refer to the period 2025-2027 for which was established that the values will be RON 125 (approx. €25) and it will be distributed every six months.

By December 2023 the number of beneficiaries were: * 1,7 million pensioners whose monthly income is less than or equal to RON 1,700 (€340). * 614,358 persons - children and adults - classified as severely, severely or moderately disabled, whose own monthly income is less than or equal to RON 1,700 (€340). * 13,098 families with at least 2 dependent children whose monthly income per family member is less than or equal RON 675 (€135). * 3,130 single-parent families whose monthly income per family member is less than or equal to RON 675 (€135). * 192,398 families and single persons who have established the right to social assistance (guaranteed minimum income). * 528 homeless people.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Parents Disabled Other groups of citizens Pensioners People on social benefits

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The Government Emergency Ordinance was discussed in the Social and Economic Council, which is a as a consultative body of the Parliament and the Government in social and economic legislation. It is formed by representatives of national representative trade union confederations, national representative employers' organizations and civil society representatives.

Views and reactions

No public information on the views or reactions of the social partners is available.

Sources

• 09 May 2022: Government Emergency Ordinance 63/2022 (legislatie.just.ro)
• 08 December 2022: GEO 165/2022 (legislatie.just.ro)
• 15 June 2023: Food cards loaded with the seventh tranche (Cardurile pentru alimente, încărcate cu o nouă tranșă de 250 lei) (adevarul.ro)
• 17 October 2023: Food cards loaded with the eighth tranche (Cardurile pentru alimente, încărcate cu o nouă tranșă de 250 lei) (adevarul.ro)
• 31 January 2024: Government Decision 70/2024 (Hotararea de Guvern 70/31 ianuarie 2024) (legislatie.just.ro)
• 22 February 2024: Ministry of Labour finalized the lists of over 2,5 million beneficiaries of food vouchers (MMSS a finalizat listele cu peste 2,5 milioane de beneficiari ai cardurilor pentru alimente) (mmuncii.ro)
• 12 December 2024: 2.6 million Romanians will benefit in December from a new 250 lei tranche for food vouchers (2,6 milioane de români vor beneficia în luna decembrie de o nouă tranșă de 250 de lei pentru alimente) (mfe.gov.ro)