The Zhoghovurd daily writes: “The state finds millions for bonuses and the Prime Minister’s cycling, but there are excuses when it comes to paying maternity benefits to pregnant women on time. At a time when Nikol Pashinyan has declared a goal of increasing Armenia’s population to 5 million by 2050, one of the most important beneficiaries of the state’s demographic policy, women preparing to become mothers, is facing bureaucratic problems. The Zhoghovurd daily has received numerous complaints about delays in the payment of maternity and temporary disability benefits.
In response to citizens’ complaints, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in response to our inquiries, clarified that it is countering them, stating that in most cases the problem is not the delay, but the lack of the right to the benefit. Meanwhile, the citizens who applied to us had received the benefit, but with months of delay. The Zhoghovurd daily’s question was very simple: What are the logical and legislative grounds for the delays and calculation methods of maternity benefits, the calculation of which is carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the payment by the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia? In response to the inquiry, the ministry reported that the study of the majority of citizens' applications revealed that they were not entitled to the benefit. This concerns, in particular, cases when the temporary disability certificate was opened during unpaid leave or during parental leave for a child under three years old. There are also restrictions in the case of maternity benefits.
According to the ministry, a self-employed person cannot receive benefits if, during pregnancy and maternity leave, they have not stopped their entrepreneurial activity in cases stipulated by law or have unfulfilled tax obligations. However, the ministry’s response leaves open an important question: how many cases of delays in payments of citizens entitled to benefits have been recorded and what are their reasons? The department also did not provide information on how many of the total number of applications relate to real delays, how many to the lack of entitlement to benefits, and how much time it takes on average from the calculation of the benefit to the transfer of the amount. Thus, instead of the question raised by citizens, “why is the maternity benefit delayed?”, the Social Security Administration mainly presents the answer, “why do some citizens not receive benefits?”
And the question of whether there are administrative or technical problems in the system that delay payments to legal beneficiaries remains unclear. This contrast in the state’s priorities is more than remarkable. On the one hand, large bonuses are being paid to employees in the state system, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is providing a grant of about $2 million for a cycling program with the participation of the Prime Minister. On the other hand, the payment of maternity benefits for citizens who are in the process of having a child and replenishing their family may be delayed or not implemented at all.
It turns out that the state finds millions for events and awards, but leaves citizens waiting when it comes to maternity benefits, which have social and demographic significance. This is especially noteworthy against the backdrop of Nikol Pashinyan’s declared goal of increasing Armenia’s population to 5 million by 2050. It is impossible to stimulate demographic growth through announcements alone if the state’s social support for motherhood is not timely and accessible.” Details in today’s issue of the “Zhoghovurd” daily.
