On September 9, the RA Government re-itemized budgetary funds for 2010 and allocated 3.2bn AMD for raising pensions as compensation for higher gas prices. Pensions are to be raised from November 1. On March the Government raised welfare payments. On September 9, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated that 104,000 Armenian families are living “thanks to the Government’s generosity.”

NEWS.am reminds readers that, to relieve the consequences of the 40% rise in gas prices from April 1, the RA Government made a decision on March 25 to raise the basic monthly pension and family allowance by 2,500 AMD (about U.S. $6.7). As a result they reached 12,500 AMD (U.S. $34) and 10,500 AMD (about U.S. 28). Most experts, however, says that the Government does not at all take sufficient measures to relieve the social consequences of the gas price rise.