Author
Beneficiaries of international protection who for objective reasons lack the necessary means of subsistence have the right to receive, upon request and within the limits of the state’s financial resources, a monthly non-reimbursable aid (“aid”) for a maximum period of 12 months.[1] The amount of aid is related to the reference social indicator under the terms and conditions established by Government Decision.[2] More exactly the amount of the financial aid is 1,08 ISR[3] and equals 714 RON/ ~ €143, marking a significant increase compared to 2023.
In 2023, some beneficiaries of international protection reported to JRS Romania that they felt discriminated against in comparison to persons benefiting from temporary protection, as the material assistance provided by the state to the latter was significantly higher. In 2024, this perception slightly diminished, as international funding for Ukrainian refugees decreased and JRS Romania’s assistance approach remained consistent for all categories. It is important to underline that these differences stemmed from the disparity in available funding and project opportunities, and not from JRS Romania’s internal policy or practices.[4]It was also reported in 2023 and in 2024[5] that IGI gives much more consistent material support to asylum seekers than the Romanian state allocates through National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection (AJPIS) within the framework of non-reimbursable aid.[6]
The Integration Ordinance states that to ensure effective access to social rights, the competent authorities take into account the specific situation of the beneficiaries of international protection.[7] New provisions were added by the amendments, stipulating that at IGI’s request, local support teams may be set up to integrate beneficiaries of international protection and other foreigners who have a right of residence in Romania, as well as citizens of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area and citizens of the Swiss Confederation. The local support teams are composed of IGI-DAI, local public administration authorities, public institutions and NGO representatives.[8] No further rules have been published, prescribing how these support teams are established, how they operate and what their responsibilities are.[9]
In 2023 and in 2024 the timeline for the submission of the application for inclusion in the integration program was prolonged from 30 days to 3 months from the date the international protection was granted, by the amended Integration Ordinance.[10]Another legal provision introduced by the amendment prescribes that NGO representatives may participate at the interview conducted by the integration officer of IGI-DAI with the beneficiary of international protection. The scope of the interview is to establish the type of assistance or activities necessary for the social integration of the applicant.[11]
The duration of integration programs for beneficiaries of international protection is 12 months, which may be extended with 6 months.[12]
Conditions for aid
The non-refundable financial aid is granted for an initial period of 6 months, with the possibility of extending it to 12 months. In order to receive non-refundable aid, beneficiaries of international protection must be enrolled in the integration program.[13] However, some groups, referred to as “special cases”, are exempt from the obligation to be enrolled in the program. The special cases are:[14]
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- Unaccompanied children;
- Persons with disabilities;
- Persons who have reached retirement age and do not benefit from retirement;
- Pregnant women;
- Single-parent families with juvenile children;
- Victims of human trafficking;
- Victims of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological or sexual violence.
In 2022, 795 beneficiaries of international protection were enrolled in the integration program and a total of 1803 were in the program, of whom 1008 continued the program from 2021.[15] There were 28 unaccompanied minors enrolled in the integration program during 2022.[16] No information is available for 2024.
In 2022, 74 beneficiaries were enrolled in the integration program in Timișoara and 22 were excluded, according to the director and 34 continued the program from the year before. In Giurgiu, 28 beneficiaries were enrolled and 34 excluded, while 41 continued their integration program from 2021. Only 15 beneficiaries finalised the one-year integration program in 2022. In Galati 66 beneficiaries were included in the integration program, one continued the program from 2020 and 98 were excluded. In Şomcuta Mare 160 beneficiaries were enrolled, of whom one unaccompanied minor. In Bucharest 495 beneficiaries were enrolled, and 990 persons were following the integration program (including the ones enrolled last year) and 249 were excluded. In Rădăuţi 107 were enrolled and 83 continued the integration program from 2021.
The provision of aid is subject to the actual residence of the beneficiary, which is mentioned on the Residence Permit. The beneficiary of international protection is included in the integration program coordinated by the IGI-DAI office territorially competent for the area where they reside.[17]
In case a beneficiary would like to change their place of residence, they have to communicate this intention to IGI-DAI where they started the integration program and has the obligation, within 15 days from the date of moving to the new address, to present themselves to the IGI-DAI office territorially competent for the area in which they now reside or, as the case may be, to the relevant territorial entity of the Aliens Authority, to register themselves and to make the necessary changes to the identity document.[18]
IGI-DAI reported that 1,564 beneficiaries of international protection benefited from non-refundable financial aid in 2022.[19] No information is available for 2024.
IGI-DAI indicated that 1,500 beneficiaries of international protection were enrolled in the integration program in 2023.[20] Out of those 1,500 persons, 739 were beneficiaries of international protection newly enrolled in the integration program in 2023, and 761 continued in 2023 the integration program they started in 2022. 16 were unaccompanied children. BIPs enrolled in the integration program in 2023 mainly came from Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iraq. Further information was not provided by IGI-DAI (e.g. regarding non-refundable financial aid in 2023). No information is available for 2024.
Application procedure for aid
The authority responsible for granting non-refundable aid is the County Agency for Payments and Social Inspection (Agenția Județeană pentru Plăți și Inspecție Socială, AJPIS). The funds necessary for granting aid are provided from the budget of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection through the Agency for Payments and Social Inspection of the County.[21]
The application for non-refundable aid is drafted individually by each beneficiary of international protection who fulfils the conditions set out in the law or by their legal representative or guardian, according to a template established by IGI.[22]This requirement raises issues in practice for unaccompanied children in Bucharest. An unaccompanied child beneficiary of international protection may not access non-refundable financial aid due to the fact that he was not appointed a legal representative by DGASPC, since the legal representative only assists unaccompanied asylum-seeking children during the asylum procedure and not after they are granted a form of protection.
In 2021 OIM stated children have access to financial aid represented by the monthly allowance for children by the state only when they are 18. Until then, the money is collected in an account on behalf of the beneficiary. Upon leaving the centre, the child will live in a DGASPC centre, and the director of the centre becomes the legal representative of the child.[23]
In practice, the application is made within 3 months of the date of granting international protection, with an NGO’s assistance. IGI-DAI forwards the file of the beneficiary to the AJPIS for review. The application must be accompanied by the decision granting international protection, the temporary residence permit, as well as a certificate attesting the registration in the integration program issued by the territorially competent IGI-DAI office.[24]
In order to establish the right to aid, the AJPIS makes a social investigation within 10 days from the receipt of the application to confirm that the applicant lacks the necessary means of subsistence.[25] The Executive Director of the AJPIS approves granting the financial aid, starting with the following month in which the application was registered with the territorial agency, on the basis of the documents submitted by IGI-DAI.[26] Until the first month of payment of the aid, beneficiaries who have no means of subsistence shall receive from IGI-DAI material aid equal to the amount granted to asylum seekers, within the limits of available funds, but for no more than three months.[27]
IGI-DAI reviews the situation of each beneficiary of aid, twice a year, depending on the active participation of the person in the activities stipulated in the individual integration plan and submits to the competent AJPIS proposals for extending the period of granting, suspending or terminating the payment of aid.[28]
According to JRS Romania no problems were reported in to obtain financial aid were reported in Şomcuta Mare, Galaţi, Rădăuţi, Bucharest, and the situation remain unchanged in 2024.[29]
According to JRS Romania’s representatives in Galați, in 2024 the main obstacle beneficiaries faced in accessing social assistance was the length of time it takes to actually receive the aid. One relevant example is the financial support linked to children’s access to state education. Although the entitlement is calculated from the date the application is submitted—provided all required documents are in order—the actual transfer of funds can take approximately 2 to 2.5 months. This delay affects the child’s family or legal representative, who must manage expenses related to school attendance (such as supplies, clothing, or transportation) without having immediate access to the financial aid meant to support these needs. While the entitlement is not lost, the lag in implementation undermines its effectiveness, especially for vulnerable families who cannot bridge the gap from their own resources.[30]
According to CNRR, in 2024 beneficiaries of international protection often had limited awareness of their socio-economic rights and the relevant institutions responsible for implementing them. While they received some information through the integration program provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration or NGOs, they were generally unaware of additional incentives and financial aid available outside this program, as well as the procedures required to access them. In some instances, insufficient knowledge among social assistance staff leads to misunderstandings and delays in granting support, creating additional barriers for refugees seeking essential services. Strengthening institutional awareness and capacity in this regard would contribute to a more efficient and equitable process.[31] Despite these challenges, those who manage to apply for socio-economic rights are often successful in obtaining them. However, the absence of interpreters within institutions necessitates reliance on NGO support to provide adequate counselling and assistance to refugees.[32] Furthermore, a recurring practical issue is the limited availability of funds for certain types of financial aid, which are accessible to both refugees and Romanian citizens. Due to high demand, these funds are often depleted rapidly, restricting access to necessary support.[33]
Beneficiaries of international protection who participate in the integration program, who do not meet the conditions for receiving non-refundable financial aid and who have no means of subsistence, are supported in order to fulfil the legal conditions for obtaining the minimum inclusion income.[34]
Beneficiaries of international protection also have the right to benefit from social insurance, social assistance measures and social health insurance, under the conditions provided by the law for Romanian citizens.[35]
[1] Article 20(1)(m) Asylum Act.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid. Article 20 (5^1).
[4] Practice based observation by JRS Romania, January 2025.
[5] ibid.
[6] ibid. April 2024.
[7] Article 14^1(1) Integration Ordinance.
[8] Article 14^1(2) Integration Ordinance.
[9] ibid. Article 14^1(3).
[10] ibid. Article 16.
[11] ibid. Article 17(1) (2).
[12] ibid. Article 20.
[13] Article 60(1) Asylum Decree.
[14] Article 33(2) Integration Ordinance.
[15] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.
[16] ibid.
[17] Article 60(1) Asylum Decree.
[18] ibid. Article 52(2).
[19] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.
[20] ibid. 18 January 2024. See also information available here.
[21] Article 20(5) Asylum Act.
[22] Article 60(2) Asylum Decree.
[23] Information provided by IOM Romania, 19 February 2022.
[24] Article 60(2) -(3) Asylum Decree.
[25] ibid. Article 60(5).
[26] ibid. Article 60(4).
[27] Article 22(3) Integration Ordinance.
[28] Article 60(6) Asylum Decree.
[29] Information provided by JRS Romania in February 2025.
[30] ibid.
[31] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[32] ibid.
[33] ibid.
[34] Article 22(1) Integration Ordinance.
[35] Article 20(1)(g) Asylum Act.