Changes Awaiting Belarusians In August

Banks are introducing innovations, while the authorities are re-counting the "parasites".

Zerkalo.io journalists have compiled a list of August changes, which can affect the Belarusians' wallets.

Some Pensions And Child Allowances Will Be Revised

From August 1, child care benefits for children under 3 years of age will be increased by 3.1%. This is a planned review of benefits, depending on changes in the average wage in the country for the previous quarter. However, the increase has been eaten up by accelerated inflation, which has substantially exceeded the current increase in benefits.

The new amounts will remain in effect until October 31 this year.

Since August 1, the minimum subsistence budget, which determines the size of lump sum payments at the birth of a child, the minimum labor and social pensions, allowances, increases to pensions and additional payments to Belarusians 75 years and older, who receive pensions in the bodies of labor, employment and social security, as well as benefits for caring for disabled person of Group I or for a person who has reached the age of 80, should also be reviewed. However, so far, officials have not announced whether and how the minimum subsistence budget will be revised.

For example, the minimum old-age pension is now 77.79 rubles (the amount without the 20% surcharge on the average wage), and the social pension is up to 155.58 rubles.

Innovations From Banks

The VTB Belarus Bank will revise fees for some services from August 1. "The amount of non-cash deposits to the account during the month for "Turtle", "Excellent", "Portmoney", "Portmoney 2.0" and "PLAT/ON" products will not be considered for cancellation of account service fees," the bank specifies. "In order to cancel the account maintenance fee for these products, one of the specified conditions shall be met".

Another major Lithuanian bank will stop making payments to Belarus. Lithuanian Šiaulių Bankas (Šiauliai Bank) announced that it would stop processing payments to/from Russia and Belarus in any currency in August - by September 1. Exceptions can only be made upon prior agreement in cases when payments are related to humanitarian purposes or needed to ensure public functions. As Delfi notes, Šiaulių bankas was the last among the major banks in Lithuania, still making payments in Belarus and Russia. In May, Swedbank and SEB Bankas terminated them, and at the end of June - Luminor bank.

The Base of Parasites to be Updated

In August, the list of working-age people who are not employed in the economy is to be updated. Those who find themselves in this database will have to pay full rates for hot water, heating and gas in July-September. But there is an important nuance here: those who own housing will be charged at economically justified rates for these utilities. The database is updated quarterly.

The Funeral Allowance will Go up

On August 1, the funeral allowance will be raised in Belarus. The amount of the payment will be Br1,626.5. It is Br53.1 more than in July. The increase has occurred in connection with the growth of the average wage in the country.

The amount of the funeral benefit in Belarus depends on the average wage in the country and varies monthly. It is equal to the salary of the month before last in relation to the month of death.

Innovation from Belposhta

From August 1, Belarusians will no longer be able to use the Express Courier service, provided by Belposhta. It will be abolished. By using the Express Courier service one could send a parcel within Minsk and regional centres within 3-4 hours with a door-to-door delivery. Moreover, the courier would come to the sender to pick up the parcel within an hour after the call.