Bulgaria amends family assistance laws regarding student absences

The Bulgarian government has approved amendments to the Law on Family Assistance for Children to ease restrictions on social benefits. Under the new rules, parents of students in grades one through four and grade eight will no longer be required to return their entire one-time annual assistance if a child incurs five unexcused absences within a single month.

Minister of Labor and Social Policy Natalia Efremova stated that the previous requirement was overly restrictive, as the aid is intended for the whole year. The new policy ensures that unexcused absences will not jeopardize the entire annual amount, aiming to prevent children from dropping out of the educational system due to financial sanctions on their families.

Additionally, the amendments reduce administrative burdens for student mothers receiving one-time childcare assistance. They will no longer need to submit certificates for subsequent semesters or completed higher education, as this information will be verified through official channels. The changes also expand eligibility to include pregnant foreign nationals and families of foreigners granted protection under asylum and refugee laws.