The global crisis hardly affected the budgetary financing of Armenia’s social security system, RA Chief Treasurer Atom Janjugazyan stated in Parliament.

He reported that the social expenditures totaled 243.7bn AMD against the planned 250bn AMD last year – an increase of 31bn AMD or 14% as compared with 2008. Thus social expenditures constituted 26% of Armenia’s state budget. A total of 193bn AMD were directed to pensions, and 206 social programs were implemented. The average monthly pension was raised by 3,500 AMD (about U.S. $9) and reached 24,600 AMD. At present, 520,000 pensioners are residing in Armenia. A total of 41bn AMD were spent on benefits.

The average monthly benefit was 23,500 AMD – a 12% rise as compared with 2008. A total of 107,400 recipients of benefits are registered in Armenia. A total of 5.4bn AMD were directed to unemployment benefits, the monthly amount being 18,000 AMD. A total of 84,000 unemployed are officially registered in Armenia, with 22,000 of them being on the dole.

The average monthly wages reached 102,000 in Armenia. Despite the increase in social expenditures, the poverty level rose by 4% in Armenia. A total of 5bn AMD were spent on social benefits.

RA Minister of Labor and Social Security Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan pointed out that the ministry will focus its attention on the employment and housing problems of boarding school and orphanage alumni. The Minister also promised an increase in child benefits, the current monthly amount being 18,000 AMD.

T.P.