ASA social benefits and social services to TP holders for the period 24.02.2022 – 31.01.2023

SOCIAL SERVICES

Pursuant to Article 2(6) of the Social Assistance Act (SAA), aliens with a long-term or permanent residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria, aliens who have been granted asylum, refugee status or humanitarian status, and aliens enjoying temporary protection, and persons for whom this is provided in an international treaty to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party, are entitled to social benefits.
The social benefits are granted on the basis of an application-declaration submitted by the persons and families to the Social Assistance Directorate (SAD) at their current address. A social assessment is carried out, during which all social, family, household and health nature circumstances are ascertained.
Persons under temporary protection are granted a one-time allowance in accordance with 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.
The allowance is granted on the basis of an application-declaration form submitted to the Social Assistance Directorate at the address of their residence with the following attached for reference:
- "Registration card of an alien granted temporary protection";
- the identity document from Ukraine;
- "Address card of a foreigner" issued by the Migration Directorate of the Regional Department of the Ministry of Interior or the hotel where the person is staying.

The social assistance payment granted to persons with temporary protection may be made in cash through a licensed postal operator or non-cash if a personal payment account is opened with a Bulgarian bank. The desired method of payment shall be indicated in the application declaration.

From 24.02.2022 to 21.02.2023, 51 159 declarations have been submitted in the country's territory. 50,396 orders have been issued in respect thereof so far. The amount paid as of 31.01.2023 is BGN 16 952 088.

As regards the financial execution for the period from 24.02.2022 to 31.12.2022, for 47 736 issued orders for granting one-time allowance under Article 16 of the Rule for the Аpplication of the Сocial Аssistance Аct (RASAA), funds amounting to BGN 16 306 338 have been paid. For the calendar period from 24.02.2022 to 31.12.2022, the total number of orders issued for granting one-time allowance under Article 16 of the RASAA is 49 511.
Since the beginning of the year until 21.02.2023, 979 declarations have been submitted. 891 orders have been issued so far. For the period 01.01.2023 - 31.01.2023, the amount paid is BGN 645 750.
Six (6) persons and families who received the allowance in 2022 received it again in 2023.

Type and number of people benefited from social services

28

total number of applications for social services

14

crisis center

1

Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration

10

Community Support Centre

3

Temporary Accommodation Centre

OPERATION FOOD PROGRAMME

The Agency for Social Protection has been designated as a specific beneficiary of the Project - ″Providing vouchers for the provision of food and essential items to displaced persons from Ukraine″ under the Operational Programme for Food and/or Basic Material Assistance (OPFBA) 2014-2020, co-financed by the European Assistance Fund for the Most Deprived Persons in Bulgaria.
The project provided basic assistance through vouchers with a nominal value of BGN 100 for food and basic necessities for the persons displaced from Ukraine after 24.02.2022 who have been granted temporary protection in the Republic of Bulgaria, certified by a Registration Card.
In order to cover a larger target group of needy persons, the deadline for the provision of vouchers has been extended twice, and currently, vouchers are provided until 28.02.2023 to all identified persons from the target group, with priority being given to the needs of children and persons who are their parents, guardians, companions, trustees, authorised persons or persons with whom children are placed under the Child Protection Act (where applicable). The assistance is granted to cover urgent needs for food, children's food and clothing, school supplies, hygiene materials and other products from the country's retail network, as well as to provide additional support through counselling and guidance through appropriate accompanying measures for social integration, in accordance with individually identified needs. The project allows for the distribution of an additional voucher as additional support to cover essential needs and the identified objective impossibility to meet essential living needs in case of integration difficulties or complete lack of integration.
The distribution of project vouchers is to be finalised by the end of February 2023.
In connection with the implementation of the project "Provision of vouchers for the provision of food and basic necessities to displaced persons from Ukraine" under OP FEPNL 2014 -2020" as of 21.02.2023, questionnaires for 35 520 persons have been accepted, 39 558 vouchers have been provided, of which 4 829 vouchers have been provided as additional support. So far 26 786 vouchers have been redeemed commercially. Additional support has been provided through 62 486 accompanying measures, broken down as follows:
- 11 870 - provision of information material;
- 17 634 - social assistance advice;
- 14 332 - advice on the provision of social services;
- 12 497 - counselling on employability;
- 2 544 - referrals to accommodation;
- 2 804 - referrals to Burea for legal assistance;
- 801 - other, including referrals to medical and health authorities, to consultations with specialists provided by NGOs.

Project "Provision of vouchers for the provision of food and basic necessities to displaced persons from Ukraine" (finalised by the end of February 2023)

35 520

persons accepted

35 558

provided vouchiers

4 829

vouchiers provided - additional support

3

Temporary Accommodation Centre

Accompanying measures

62 486

accompanying measures, broken down as follows:

11 870

provision of information material

17 634

social assistance advice

14 332

advice on the provision of social services

12 497

counselling on employability

2 544

referrals to accommodation

2 804

referrals to Burea for legal assistance

801

other, including referrals to medical and health authorities, to consultations with specialists provided by NGOs

FOOD AND BASIC MATERIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

Procedure BG05SFPR003-1.001 "Hot lunch" until 30.09.2025 was announced on 19.09.2022, under which a total of 233 project proposals have been submitted by 30.01.2023 by municipalities and regions of municipalities, with a maximum implementation period until 30.09.2025. Support with hot lunch (with a unit value of BGN 3.20 per day) and accompanying measures is also available for persons with temporary protection, and so far, 94 persons with temporary protection who have left Ukraine due to the military aggression there have been supported with hot lunch by the specific beneficiary municipalities. 75 in Burgas municipality, 15 in Gorna Oryahovitsa municipality, 2 in Belovo municipality and one person each in Shabla and Chepelare municipalities. Anyone wishing to apply for support to the respective municipality implementing a project under the operation can be supported after undergoing a selection procedure, including the establishment of membership of the target groups in accordance with Regulation No RD-06-53 of 17.09.2021 on the procedures and conditions for determining the target groups and targeting the assistance under the Food and Basic Material Assistance Programme 2021-2027, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.

Project "Provision of vouchers for the provision of food and basic necessities to displaced persons from Ukraine" (finalised by the end of February 2023)

94

persons with temporary protection who have left Ukraine due to the military aggression there have been supported with hot lunch

75

in Burgas

15

in Gorna Oryahovitsa

2

in Belovo

1

Shabla

1

Chepelare

Scroll to Top