Commentary to Decree No. 322 of 29 August 2016

    Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No. 322 “Concerning cashless housing subsidies” on 29 August.

    In accordance with the decree, the system of cashless housing subsidies (implication-and application-based) will be introduced on 1 October 2016. This measure is needed to provide state support, first of all, to pensioners and socially vulnerable categories of people as the share of reimbursement of the utility services is increasing for households.

    The subsidies shall be provided if the monthly payment for utility services and the sum of reimbursement for electricity consumption for lighting the auxiliary facilities in a tenement building exceeds 20% of the average monthly aggregate income of the families living in urban areas and 15% of the income of the families living in rural areas.

    The subsidies for non-working pensioners and unemployed persons with disabilities (implication-based principle) will be enforced as from 1 October 2016.

    Citizens, not covered by the implication-based principle, will be also entitled to the subsidies as from 1 October 2016 on the basis of applications.

    The government shall be instructed to analyze the efficiency of providing cashless subsidies based on the implication principle and shall submit corresponding proposals to the President.

    The decree also reveals the order of providing subsidies.