Assistance to children who lost parental care

Assistance to children who lost parental care

The Law on Benefits for Children

A guardianship (curatorship) Benefit

Every child who is placed under guardianship in a family, social family, childcare institution or guardian centre receives a monthly guardianship (curatorship) benefit for the duration of their guardianship.

The amount of the benefit is based on the child's age and needs:

• Children under 6 years receive 5.2 basic social benefits (BSA).
• Children aged 6 to 12 years receive 6 BSA.
• Children aged 12 to 18 years and disabled children (without regard to the age limit) receive 6.5 BSA.

After the foster care ends due to attaining the majority, emancipation or contracting a marriage a person who is studying according to the general curriculum, formal vocational training curriculum or is a student at a higher education institution, but no longer until they reach the age of 24, a guardianship (curatorship) benefit in the amount of 6.5 BSA is paid.

When the recipient of a guardianship (curatorship) benefit is provided with free accommodation and food in the dormitory of a general education school, vocational training institution or higher school, or in the socialization centre for children, the amount of monthly benefit is equal to the 50 per cent of the general guardianship (curatorship) benefit.

When the recipient of the benefit receives an orphan’s pension and/or maintenance, the amount of the benefit equals the difference between the general guardianship (curatorship) benefit and the amount of the mentioned orphan’s pension and/or maintenance.

A targeted guardianship (curatorship) benefit supplement

For each child placed under guardianship (curatorship) of a family, social family or guardian centre a targeted guardianship (curatorship) benefit supplement in the amount of 4 BSA is paid.

Upon the termination of foster care due to reaching the age of majority, emancipation or marriage, an individual who continues to reside with and be supported by a former guardian while pursuing studies under the general curriculum shall receive a monthly targeted guardianship (curatorship) benefit supplement of 4 BSA, until the age of 23.

The targeted benefit supplement shall not be granted or shall cease if:

the child is in custody, is serving a custodial sentence, has been placed under compulsory medical measures for in-patient observation in specialised mental health care institutions in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure, has been declared wanted, or has been declared by a court to be unaccounted for, until these circumstances cease to exist.

A lump sum settlement benefit

After the foster care ends due to attaining the majority, emancipation or contracting a marriage a person is paid a lump sum settlement benefit in the amount of 75 BSA.

A lump sum settlement benefit may be used:

• to buy housing,
• to pay part of the loan for building or buying housing,
• to rent housing,
• to pay taxes for housing communal services,
• to repair or reconstruct housing,
• to purchase furniture, household, video and audio equipment, household items, one personal computer, one mobile phone,
• to cover the costs of studies and non-formal education, to purchase learning and working tools.
• to purchase a plot of land,
• to pay the costs of paid health care goods and services,
• to purchase a car, moped, motorcycle, etc.

Actual expenses are paid upon submission of supporting documents.

This benefit shall not be paid in cash, unless there is an unused part of the benefit of less than 2 BSA, which may be paid in cash to the beneficiary himself.This benefit must be used within 24 months from the date of the decision to award the benefit, and the unused amount of the benefit is returned by the municipal administration to the state budget.

The settlement benefit is not granted:

• the person is dependent (receives free accommodation, food and other services) in an institution funded by the state or municipality.
• the person is arrested, is serving a custodial sentence, is subject to compulsory medical measures for in-patient observation in specialised mental health care institutions, has been declared wanted, or has been declared by a court to be in an unknown location until these circumstances cease to exist.

A child temporary care benefit

In accordance with the procedure established by the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child for the temporary carer during the period of temporary guardianship of a child is paid a child temporary care benefit in the amount of 6 BSA.

The child temporary care benefit is paid to the person who looks after the child.

No benefit is payable if the child is placed in temporary care at the request of their parents or other legal representatives.