Minister Buzu urges online registration for social assistance
Over 105,000 applications have been submitted to the compensatii.gov.md platform within the first two days since the launch of registration.
Approximately 4,500 Moldovan citizens have contacted the central helpline seeking assistance from specialists.
The Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Alexei Buzu, has urged citizens not to create queues at social assistants' offices, pointing out that the experience of the past two years demonstrates that all citizens have been able to register on the compensation platform.
“We have deployed mobile teams from the ministry to assist our colleagues at the municipal level. Additionally, we have a counter at the ministry where citizens can register in person. We are taking action to address areas where queues are forming. There are still three weeks to complete the registration process, and it does not take long. It is unnecessary to wait in line. The timing of registration, whether this week or next, will not affect how soon we receive the compensation,” said Minister Buzu.
Despite these assurances, many citizens are still waiting in long lines at social assistants' offices to register for compensation. Most of these individuals are elderly, for whom the procedure may seem difficult, or who lack internet access. A similar situation has been observed in the village of Slobozia-Cremene, in the Soroca district. Residents of the village have been arriving early in the morning to secure their place in line, eager to receive assistance for the upcoming cold season:
“We are waiting for the social assistant. People have been here since 7:00 AM. When our turn comes, we will go inside. The lady said she will stay to receive the documents as long as needed. The assistance is for heating and electricity.”
“It’s for electricity, water, and gas.”
“The line is long, but we don’t know how to register by mobile phone. It’s better to come in person. Our pension is small, and this will help, even if just for electricity.”
It is important to note that this year, compensation will no longer be directly applied to utility bills. Beneficiaries will instead receive the funds via bank cards or can collect them at the post office. Moreover, vulnerability ratings will no longer be assigned. Instead, the system will determine compensation on an individual basis, considering household income, the number of family members, and their status.
To qualify for this monthly support, citizens must register by the 28th of the month. Otherwise, compensation will be granted starting the following month.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
