The Government Plans to Introduce a New Poverty Assessment System
According to the government’s decision, a new poverty assessment system will be launched in Armenia starting March 17, 2025. One of its main objectives is to reduce extreme poverty in the country. The poverty level of households will be assessed in 4 categories: extremely poor, moderately poor, moderately vulnerable, and vulnerable. Accordingly, families will receive different social support packages, which may include benefits, educational and healthcare privileges, assistance for utility services, and more.
Under the new system, a poverty benefit will replace the current family benefits, this benefit will be granted to families whose monthly income per household member is below the poverty threshold, which is defined as the cost of the food basket. For 2025, this threshold is set at 34,581 AMD for adults, based on the minimum food basket calculated and published by the National Statistical Committee for the third quarter of 2024. For example, a single adult with zero income will receive a benefit of 34,581 AMD. Under the current system, the average benefit is 33,000 AMD, but with the new system, the average amount will increase to 49,330 AMD, – noted Narek Mkrtchyan.
The new system mandates active involvement or employment of working-age individuals. Non-working but able-bodied individuals will have their application considered as a job search request, and if they find employment, their family income will not be counted for 12 months. This means that these families will not immediately lose access to the benefit system.
The program will be implemented on a pilot basis in the Syunik and Kotayk regions. Additionally, testing has been carried out on 5,000 families, and the results correspond to the established system.