Social Assistance Description and Recommendations
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Social Assistance Description and Recommendations 2014-2016 Analysis of Social Benefits/Assistance Provided to the Population of Georgia by Central and Municipal Governments Tbilisi 2017 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2014-2016 This research has been conducted with the assistance of UNICEF and the European Union. The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the Social Services Agency and other institutions were actively involved in the process. The research was carried out by a group of consultants. The authors of this report are solely responsible for the accuracy and quality of its information. The views presented in this document belong to its authors and do not do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and UNICEF. © UNICEF, 2018 2 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2014-2016 Terms and Expressions • The local level - 71 municipal units that provided social benefits to socially vulnerable persons and participated in this research (for the complete list see Annex N 1); • The central level - 6 ministries that provided social benefits to socially vulnerable persons and participated in this research (for the complete list see Annex N 1); • This research covers three types of social benefits: . Direct financial aid – monetary assistance provided to beneficiaries by local or central government bodies regularly or only once. Indirect financial aid provided in the form of a subsidy – an amount allocated by local or central government bodies which allows beneficiaries and their families to use various services under preferential conditions. For example, this includes utility services and transport. Service – different types of benefits provided by local or central government bodies, with the exception of direct and indirect financial aid. • Beneficiary – a person or a group of persons who receive a benefit/assistance; • This research covers five beneficiary categories: . Single elderly persons – unemployed pensioners who live alone (or a family consisting only of unemployed pensioners); . Single parents / single foster parents – persons with a child (children) who have not had a spouse and/or a widows/widowers who takes care of a child (children); . Persons / children with disabilities; . Children deprived of parental care – children under state care; . Poor families with children: a family with children, if (a) the family’s social rating score is 100 000 or lower; b) the family’s assistance eligibility score is defined by the local government; c) the family’s assistance/subsidy/service does not depend on the social rating score and is provided based on some other criteria, in accordance with the decision of a local government. 3 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2014-2016 Table of Content Terms and Expressions ............................................................................................................. 3 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 6 Observations ...........................................................................................................................................................8 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................... 11 The Research Goals ................................................................................................................. 12 2.1 The Target Groups and Types of Benefits Covered by the Research ..................................................... 12 2.2 Research Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Data Collection Process and Existing Shortfalls ......................................................................................... 13 2.4 Gaps in the Data Obtained at the Central Level ........................................................................................ 13 2.5 Gaps in the Data Obtained at the Municipal Level ................................................................................... 14 2.6 Description of the Materials Used in this Research .................................................................................. 14 2.7 The Scope of this Research ........................................................................................................................... 15 2.8 The Report Structure ..................................................................................................................................... 15 3. Social Assistance Provided at the Central Level and Benefits Linked to the Social Rating Score ...... 16 3.1 Social Benefits Provided by Ministries and their Subordinated Institutions ......................................... 17 3.2 Social Assistance Provided to the Target Groups by the Central Government Institutions and their Subordinated Agencies ................................................ 20 3.3 Forms and Financial Data of Direct and Indirect Financial Aid Provided at the Central Level ........... 25 3.3.1 Types and Definition of Direct Financial Aid.............................................................................. 25 3.3.2 Indirect Financial Aid/Subsidy ................................................................................................... 29 3.3.3 Services ...................................................................................................................................... 32 3.4 Central Social Assistance Linked to the Social Rating Score .................................................................... 37 4. Municipal Social Assistance and its Beneficiaries ..................................................................... 39 4.1 Tbilisi (city) ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 4.2 Kakheti Region ................................................................................................................................................ 39 4.3 Imereti Region ................................................................................................................................................ 41 4.4 Ajara Autonomous Republic ......................................................................................................................... 43 4.5 Guria Region ................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.6 Samegrelo –Zemo Swaneti Region .............................................................................................................. 46 4.7 Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Swaneti Region .......................................................................................... 48 4.8 Samtskhe-Javakheti Region .......................................................................................................................... 49 4.9 Kvemo Kartli Region....................................................................................................................................... 50 4.10 Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region ......................................................................................................................... 52 4 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2014-2016 4.11 Shida Kartli Region ....................................................................................................................................... 53 4.12 Municipal Budgets by the Social Assistance Types ................................................................................. 54 4.13 Muniucipal Social Assistance Criteria and Trends ................................................................................... 60 4.14 Sotial Assistance Linked to the Rating Score ........................................................................................... 60 5. Conclusions and Recommendaitons ...................................................................................... 61 5.1 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................................... 61 5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 62 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 63 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................... 65 Annex 1: Information about Municipalities, Ministries and Interviews (attached to this Report as a separate document) .......................................................................................... 65 Annex 2: Three Forms of Benefits Provided in 71 Municipalities to the Five Social Groups (attached to this Report as a separate document) .......................................................................................... 65 Annex 3: Local Social Assistance Linked to the Social Rating Score (attached