“Together with the Baby and the Mother.” This is the name of the new program replacing the “Baby Starter Kit,” through which beneficiaries will receive €1,000 and in-home support.
Speaking on the Alpha News program, Social Welfare Services Officer Panagiota Christou, stated that the program is part of the government’s broader policy to support families and social welfare.
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“The program combines the provision of baby equipment and essential care items worth €1,000 with in-home support from a social worker.”
It is estimated that approximately 1,000 families will benefit from the program each year, with an annual budget of 1.5 million euros and a duration of two years, with the option to renew for an additional year.
It is aimed at households eligible for the EEE allowance and families eligible for the child allowance with a total annual income of up to 20,000 euros. Families that meet the above criteria and have been legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus for the past five years, up to the date of the child’s birth, will not have been certified by the YDEP.
Ms. Christou points out that the plan is aimed at the most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged segments of the population in order to avert the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
She also emphasizes that the goal is to simplify procedures and ensure that support reaches families in a timely manner, particularly after the birth of a child, since the needs and responsibilities of new parents are significantly greater.
