In the final reading this week, the Saeima supported the amendments to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance, which envisages simplifying the procedures for granting social assistance and reducing the administrative burden on local government social services.
With the amendments, it is established that in certain cases, local government social services will be able not to issue written decisions on the granting of social assistance, for example, when granting a one-time benefit or a benefit for a certain period, if its amount does not change. Likewise, a written decision may not be issued when assigning the status of a poor or low-income household.
It is established that in such cases the decision will be considered notified at the moment when the person receives the benefit – in cash or by transfer to the account – while the decision regarding the granting of the status will be considered notified on the day of issuing the certificate.
Purpose of change is to reduce the administrative burden, because until now, even in simple cases favorable to the person, social services had to prepare full-fledged written administrative acts, which require considerable resources.
At the same time, the annotation emphasizes that the new procedure will apply only to cases in which the content of the decision is unambiguous, but in more complex situations, written decisions will still be necessary.
The amendments will not limit the rights of individuals, as residents will retain the opportunity to request a written presentation of the decision and to challenge it in accordance with the procedure specified in the Law on Administrative Procedure.
It is certain that the changes will have a positive impact on the work of social services, allowing more time to be spent on direct work with clients, while making the process of receiving help faster and easier.
The changes were developed in the State Administration and Local Government Commission and directed as urgent.
