Armenia introduces single social security service

YEREVAN, February 3. /ARKA/. An extraordinary meeting of the Armenian parliament today passed in the first reading a set of amendments and additions to the laws "On social support", "On bodies of the state administration system" and "On state pensions" which are aimed at creating a single social security service.

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mesrop Arakelyan said the main goal of the changes is to install effective mechanisms for implementing the government's policy in the field of social security, in particular, the system of integrated social services, which should be based on a unified system for assessing social needs.

He said the single social security service will unite the social service, the system of family benefits, the disability and employment and pensions systems. According to him, the new single social security system will be introduced on April 1, 2021.

He emphasized that the main goal is not only installing the one-stop-shop principle, but a comprehensive assessment of social needs of a family.

The minister said also that as a result of these changes al 1,824 social security workers across the country will keep their jobs, no one will be laid off. He said also that the institution of a social assistant will be introduced, since people in a difficult situation need not only financial or material assistance, but also psychological support. According to him, this service will be targeting in the first place disabled people, old people and children. -0--