Changes to Assistance Program for Missing and Captured Persons

Changes have been made to the social support program aimed at families of missing persons and captives following the military operations of 2020.

The previously provided one-off financial assistance to these families has been replaced with monthly monetary assistance, enabling ongoing support for families as long as the status of the missing or captured civilian has not changed.

The amount of the monthly financial assistance is calculated from December 2020 through December 2021, inclusive, unless information regarding the bases for the missing (captured) status becomes available or ceases to exist. In cases where such grounds are present, the monthly assistance amount is calculated from the month the grounds are made known until the month they cease to exist, inclusive.

This means that if previously families of missing persons and captives received a one-time payment of 1,000,000 dram, henceforth, eligible support will be received on a monthly basis at the rate of 300,000 dram within the specified timeframe, in addition to the previously received one-off amount of 1,000,000 dram.

Applications are accepted until December 5, 2021. Families that have already submitted applications will need to follow a simplified procedure, providing only information regarding the presence of other beneficiaries (family members such as spouses, children, parents, sisters, brothers). If family members agree to receive the assistance through one beneficiary, they also need to attach an electronic copy of the signed agreement by all beneficiaries regarding the receipt of the designated funds by one beneficiary.