Social Package Beneficiaries Will Be Able to Access Dental Services

The Armenian government approved extensive changes to the distribution procedures of the social package during its meeting on October 28, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

According to these changes, new services have been added to the spending directions of the social package, which are presented below:

• Exemption from payment for services of spa and sports complexes, swimming pools, and other sports organizations. The beneficiary and/or their immediate family member will be able to use the service (coming into effect on December 12).
• Exemption from payment for additional services not included in the health package, such as dental services (therapeutic and surgical). The beneficiary will be able to use the service (coming into effect on December 12).
• Exemption from state-subsidized student loan payments (the service can be utilized by the beneficiary and/or their immediate family member).
• Exemption from payments for educational institutions implementing preschool education programs (kindergartens, preschools).
• Exemption from monthly payments on all mortgage loans granted for property acquisition or construction purposes.

The requirement to present an identification card to access social package services has been removed.

A guarantee has also been established for beneficiaries so that when a social package beneficiary moves from one organization to another for employment, their right to access the social package remains intact.

The circle of immediate family members of social package beneficiaries has been revised, which now includes the beneficiary's parent, adoptive parent, adopted child, person under guardianship or custody, grandparent, grandchild, brother, and sister.

The allocation procedure for the social package has been clarified to resolve several issues that have arisen in practice.