Not Everyone Has Access to the Digitized Database for Discounts: What to Do in This Case

Between January 1-12, 2025, the Yerevan City Hall's secretariat received 6,920 calls on the helpline 1-05, of which 3,543 related to the new unified ticketing system. This was reported during the City Hall's regular operational meeting.

From January 7-10, 1,250 calls were received daily, compared to 650 previously, with 50 percent of them concerning transportation issues. The calls included inquiries about the procedures for obtaining benefits, complaints regarding the reduction of validity periods for card acquisition vouchers, issues related to payments by bank cards, and complaints about buses not recognizing QR codes, as well as other technical problems. There were also complaints about not receiving vouchers through 'Telsell' terminals and the app, and grievances from employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, and residents of adjacent areas about being excluded from the list of beneficiaries.

Mayor Tigran Avinyan inquired if individuals belonging to beneficiary groups could find their data and access their benefits on the website transport.yerevan.am. Deputy Mayor Suren Grigoryan noted that the digitized database does not cover everyone entitled to benefits. 'Those individuals who cannot find their data but are sure they are eligible can submit an online application with the appropriate documentation,' said the Deputy Mayor.

Avinyan suggested discussing each beneficiary group separately, as the databases do not belong to the Yerevan City Hall, indicating that additional information might be needed. 'Students have to wait until January 20 to obtain their beneficiary status. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport has assured that by January 20, the databases will be fully updated,' Grigoryan stated.

The Mayor asked what a student should do if they want to access a benefit but their name is not in the database. Grigoryan responded that they need to wait until January 20. He also stated that no problems have been noticed regarding schoolchildren and assured that there are no issues concerning pensioners either. Avinyan also inquired about the beneficiaries' database, and was informed that there is no systemic problem in this area, but there are specific issues that are being addressed individually.