Social cards will soon reach the country’s poor

This year, a new procedure for providing support to needy residents came into force – instead of previously distributed packages of long-lasting food products and hygiene products, after receiving social cards, people will decide for themselves which products and goods to purchase in the chosen store or retail chain. The first delivery of social cards for the purchase of food products and consumer goods to municipal administrations and the charity and support fund “Maisto bankas” is currently underway. Starting next week, social cards will be distributed to beneficiaries.

“We are probably the first in Europe to implement a nationwide weather and enabling solution. Poor residents will no longer have to stand in queues and wait for products distributed according to schedules. They will be able to freely use the money on the card and decide for themselves what they would like to buy in the shopping network of their choice”, emphasizes the Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė.

Currently, ten suppliers have joined the social card initiative: part of UAB “Aibė” alliance stores, UAB ,,Grūstė, UAB ,,Gulbelė”, UAB ,,IKI Lietuva”, UAB ,,Indritus”, UAB ,,Kaišiadorių users’ cooperative, UAB ,, Koops mažmena”, UAB “Lidl Lietuva”, UAB “MAXIMA LT”, UAB “RIMI Lietuva”. Merchants will deliver social cards to municipal administrations and “Maisto Bank” until February 20, after which cards will be distributed to residents.

Municipalities where the cards will be handed over to beneficiaries by the social support departments of the municipal administration or employees of the local councils: Akmenė district municipal administration, Anykščiai district municipal administration, Elektrėnai municipal administration, Kaunas city municipal administration, Kelmė district municipal administration, Kėdainiai district municipal administration, Kretinga district municipal administration , Prienai District Municipality Administration, Radviliškis District Municipality Administration, Raseiniai District Municipality Administration, Šalčininkai District Municipality Administration, Šiauliai City Municipality Administration, Telšiai District Municipality Administration, Trakai District Municipality Administration, Utena District Municipality Administration and Vilnius District Municipality Administration. The responsible employees of the above-mentioned municipal administrations or townships will inform you when and where to pick up the card.

In all other municipalities, “Maisto bankas” will hand over the cards to the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will receive an SMS message to their phone number, when and where they need to pick up the card.

It is planned to transfer funds to social cards 4 times a year – in the middle of March, June, September and December. Funds can be used from the moment they are received until March 14 of the following calendar year. inclusive.

IMPORTANT: Until February 29 extended the deadline when needy residents can still submit applications to receive funds for the 1st quarter to a social card. The transfer of funds for this quarter will also take place in April. Funds will be transferred to social cards in the following quarters according to all requests submitted later and positively assessed.

The deadline for accepting and considering applications for the first quarter has been extended to give people the opportunity to choose from the widest possible range of suppliers, which has been intensively expanding with stores located in the regions.

More information about social cards www.priimk.lt

Support for social cards is allocated from the funds of the Program for the Reduction of Material Poverty.

Information from the Ministry of Social Security and Labour