Author
Asylum seekers staying in centres have the right to material reception conditions including accommodation, food, clothing and a cash allowance.[1] Since 2018, the new Asylum Act provides for the possibility of a cash allowance for personal needs.[2] However, cash allowances have rarely been granted according to the author’s knowledge, and such practice was reported by beneficiaries of AC in Krnjača in 2022 only few times, while in 2023 no allowance was granted.[3] They explained that cash assistance of around 4,000 dinars (EUR 34) was monthly provided to families and vulnerable applicants, usually those with serious medical conditions.
Persons seeking asylum and accommodated at an Asylum or a Reception Centre do not have the right to access social welfare. This remains a possibility for persons staying in private accommodation.[4] Social assistance in these cases shall take the form of a monthly cash allowance provided that the person is not accommodated in an Asylum or Reception Centre and that they and the members of their family have no other income, or that this income is below the legally prescribed threshold for the establishment of the amount of social allowance. The Decision on Social Assistance sets out the following monthly amounts:[5]
- Single adult: RSD 11,445.00 (€97)
- Family member: RSD 5,723.00 (€48)
- Minor child: RSD 3,434.00 (€29)
The decision on the request to exercise the right to monthly allowance is made by the Social Welfare Centre in the municipality of residence of that person. The request is to be supplemented by an ID of the asylum seeker or a person granted asylum and other supporting evidence which mainly revolves around the monthly incomes and the fact that the applicant has to prove that he does not have any income, or their income is lower than the available social allowance. Additional requirement is the certificate of unemployment issued by NES. The procedure itself is conducted in line with the GAPA provisions.
The conditions for exercise of the right to monthly allowance are reviewed ex officio once a year. However, the monthly amount received from the Social Welfare Centre is very limited and generally insufficient in order to maintain a dignified existence. There have not been instances in which social allowances were granted to asylum seekers accommodated at private address and it is not clear how many persons granted asylum enjoyed this right since the beginning of the Serbian asylum system.
There have not been any reports regarding difficulties in accessing public funds (local, national or EU funds) which could have hampered on limited the provision of reception conditions.
[1] Article 50(1) Asylum Act and the Rulebook on social allowances for persons seeking or granted asylum, Official Gazzette, no. 12/2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3MNLElk.
[2] Article 50(2) Asylum Act.
[3] Information received through the CRM response on IDEAS request for the information of public importance no. 019-827/1-2024 on 25 April 2024.
[4] Article 53 Asylum Act.
[5] Decision on nominal amounts of social assistance no. 401-00-00260/12/2023-09 31 October 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/4cKarRT.