Armenia`s government to extend 40 +10 programme for Artsakh Armenians

ArmInfo. The Armenian government has made changes and additions to the procedure for providing social assistance to persons internally displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

In October 2023, a program was launched in Armenia, within the  framework of which 40 thousand drams (about 100 dollars) per month  per person were allocated to cover the housing costs of each family  internally displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, and another 10 thousand  drams to pay for utilities. The program was supposed to cover all  displaced citizens, regardless of age, with the exception of those in  special centers and those who are not in Armenia. At the same time,  property owners in Armenia were entitled to 10 thousand drams to pay  for utilities.

Initially, the program was approved as a temporary measure, for a  6-month period, since it was planned to implement a housing program.  It was then decided to continue the program until the end of 2024,  taking into account that it would take time to fully implement the  second program and include beneficiaries in it.  In November 2024,  the authorities announced that the terms of the program (40+10) would  be revised.

As a result, it was decided to review the terms of the 40+10 program  - from April 2025, people of working age were excluded from the list  of beneficiaries: the right to support is granted to displaced  persons with disabilities of group I or II, severe limitations in  life activity, who have reached the age of 63 and older, who have  lost a breadwinner, studying in general education and vocational  institutions, as well as children under 18. At the same time, the  amount of assistance from April to June inclusive will be 40 thousand  drams, and from July to December inclusive - 30 thousand drams.

The changes are due to the upcoming reforms to improve the  effectiveness of programs that require additional assessments and  deadlines. Social support measures will be implemented in the  Republic of Armenia in 2025 within the framework of the state budget,  without additional budget burden. We are talking about a support  program in the amount of 50 thousand drams per family member>, - the  draft decision says.

In early April this year, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan  announced that since October 2023, more than 115 billion drams have  been allocated within the framework of various assistance programs  for internally displaced persons. 85-90% of these funds were provided  from the state budget.