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Bill 41.26, adopted on Thursday by the Government Council, introduces amendments to Law 58.23 governing the direct social assistance (ASD) scheme, with the aim of removing a potential barrier to beneficiaries’ integration into the formal labor market. The new measures will be implemented by the National Social Support Agency.
The bill introduces an exceptional monthly allowance for beneficiary households that lose eligibility for direct social assistance after gaining access to formal employment, according to ANSS data. In the event of job loss reported to the National Social Security Fund, beneficiaries would immediately regain their right to ASD payments.
Grounded in the principles set out in Article 31 of the Constitution, the bill falls within the framework of Article 18 of Framework Law 09.21 on social protection. It seeks to address the reluctance of some households to join the formal labor market out of concern that registration with the CNSS would automatically lead to the loss of social assistance benefits.
Under the new provisions, households that previously benefited from the ASD scheme but became ineligible after the head of household or one of the spouses was registered under the private-sector social security system may continue to receive an exceptional monthly allowance. The amount would correspond to the support they would normally have received under the ASD scheme, depending on their situation.
The bill also stipulates that households affected by job loss beyond their control, once declared to the CNSS, would regain access to direct social assistance without having to observe the 12-month waiting period currently required under Article 7 of Law 58.23.
The duration and eligibility conditions for the allowance will be defined through regulatory texts. The ANSS will also be tasked with conducting an evaluation study two years after the measures come into force in order to assess their effectiveness and propose possible improvements.
