One-time adoption benefit could increase 10 times

The one-time adoption benefit could increase 10 times. The Government's law-in-draft on amendments to the law “On State Benefits for Citizens with Children,” designed to encourage citizens to adopt orphans and children left without parental care, was considered by deputies of the Supreme Council in the first reading. The legislative initiative was prepared as part of events dedicated to the Year of Family and Family Values.

The law-in-draft makes several significant additions, which, according to the Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, will increase the number of people wishing to adopt a child.

One can only apply for a lump sum benefit at present if you adopt a child under the age of 14 years. The amount of the benefit itself is 242 minimum wages, which is 2589 rubles, with an increase in this benefit amount in 2024: at the birth (adoption) of the first child – by 3680 rubles (6270 rubles totally), for the second and subsequent children – by 4406 rubles (6996 rubles totally). The government proposes to increase the size of the one-time benefit to 2,500 minimum wages, which is about 30 thousand rubles, for each child in the case of adoption of a disabled child, a child over 7 years old, as well as children who are brothers and sisters.

Deputies agree that such innovations can influence the increase in the number of adopted people in the republic. This amount will become a kind of starting capital for families, which will allow them to buy everything necessary for settling down a new family member. However, fears were expressed that the noticeably increased size of the lump sum benefit would attract scammers.

The Government explained that the procedure for canceling an adoption, like the adoption itself, is quite long and takes place in court. In addition, those who do not participate in the maintenance of the child will bear child support obligations until the child reaches adulthood even after the adoption is canceled. Such nuances will be finalized as part of the preparation of the law-in-draft for the second reading, noted the chairman of the relevant Committee on Social Policy Sergei Cheban.

Work on the law-in-draft will continue in the second reading. The changes are expected to take effect on January 1, 2025 upon the adoption.