The children from Yambol, removed from a risky family environment, are currently placed in foster families and are in good health. This was stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Hasan Ademov on the air of “Sabûû se“, emphasizing that the institutions are working for their possible reunification and return to a family environment.
According to him, the most important priority is “the best interest of the child“, and a coordination mechanism between social services, the Ministry of Interior and the prosecutor's office has already been activated. A check is currently being carried out for available relatives and friends who could take care of the children, and an option for them to be raised is being sought as a priority together.
The Minister specified that it is possible that a final decision on their future placement will be made at the beginning of next week. In parallel, social services are also working with the biological parents to increase their parental capacity in order to create conditions for the children's possible return to their home. “There is no better care than a family environment when it is safe“, Ademov emphasized.
We recall that a 2 and a half year old child hung himself from a railing on a terrace on the eighth floor in Yambol. The report was filed on April 1 by eyewitnesses in the “Golden Horn“ complex. A police team was immediately sent and the boy was rescued. The child's parents were not found in the apartment. Only his 1-year-old sister was with him.
The Minister also discussed the new state fuel compensation of about 20 euros for the most vulnerable households. According to the Ministry, Nearly 50,900 applications have been submitted, with the number expected to reach around 60,000. Ademov indicated that the funds will be paid automatically after the National Revenue Agency finalizes the checks, and this will probably happen by mid-April. He specified that there is no need to apply additionally for people who already have a file in the social assistance system.
The compensation is calculated based on the average monthly price of fuels and will be applied at certain price thresholds, with the system remaining dynamic and can be adapted if the economic situation changes.
The Minister of Social Affairs announced that a new regulation is being prepared that will introduce a clear distinction between “energy poor“ and “energy vulnerable“ groups. The vulnerable will include the elderly, citizens living alone and patients dependent on electricity for medical needs. According to him, there is already support for around 370,000 households that have received heating benefits within the current season, with the average amount of assistance being around 600 leva.
Ademov added that the state is working towards higher social protection through indexation of the minimum wage and the poverty line.
The minister also commented on reports of possible abuse of social assistance during election campaigns. According to him, some of the practices include pressure on recipients of social assistance to participate in political activities, including posting campaign materials. “For the first time, the system is committed to transparency and control over these processes“, he said, emphasizing that checks are already being carried out and work is being done to limit such practices.