The State has an obligation to take special care of children temporarily or permanently deprived of parental care in order to ensure their wellbeing and development. Such a situation can arise if the parents of the child have passed away or if they are otherwise unable or unwilling to take care of the child.
Read more about the situations when a child has been deprived of parental care, such as the placement of a child in social care without the withdrawal of parental rights or the withdrawal of parental rights, the child's separation from their family or adoption.
In Moldova, there are several ways that the State and local public administration provide support for children left without parental care. The support available for children without parental care and for persons who have undertaken their care can be subject to change.
If one of the parents has passed away, the child is entitled to a pension which is provided for the loss of a supporter, subject to condition the latter received a pension. The pension is paid to children up to 18 years old or up to their graduation but not later than 23 years of age where they are enrolled in full time education.
The same beneficiaries, as well children with disabilities, regardless of age, if the disability was established before reaching the mentioned ages of 18 and 23 years, are entitled to financial support from the state to compensate their funeral costs.
You can learn more about the pension for the loss of a supporter and the current amount of the pension in the website of the National Social Insurance House.
When turning 18, the child who has lost both parents is entitled to support from the local public administration which has decided on his/her out-of-family care:
- one-time financial support for the start of an independent life and purchasing articles of first necessity
note The local guardian authority, the local public authority or other donors can also provide these articles free of charge.
- a daily allowance for children in various forms of social care
note The allowance is only paid until the age of 18 years.
- monthly and one-time paid financial support where the orphan continues studies, including for accommodation
Some local public administrations may also provide additional support which is not mentioned above. To learn more about the support provided in your local public administration and how to receive it, please, contact the social services or social department in your local public administration.
The State provides support in various ways if a child has been appointed a guardian, in particular, a benefit to the guardian for supporting the child.
note The guardian receives the abovementioned support during the time the child is considered to be in his/her custody.
The care of a child in foster families or other family-oriented environment is preferable to institutionalized out-of-family care. Therefore, the foster family is entitled to the same benefits as descried for the guardian and to assistance of a social worker, psychologist and other specialists provided by the local public administration.
note The amount of this type of support can differ across different local public administrations.
There may also be annual financial support provided by the local public administration for the purchase of clothing and other necessary items for the child (or support in goods).
You can learn more about the State provided monthly allowance in the Government Decision on the approval of the Regulation concerning the conditions for determining and paying the benefits intended for adopted children and children subject to guardianship and find out more about the other kinds of support from the social service or social department in your local public administration.
A person who has adopted a child has the right to receive an allowance for the adoption of a child. It is monthly sum paid soon after the adoption of a child for their care. Therefore, the amount of the remuneration depends on the number of adopted children in the family. Additionally, adopters receive the same social benefits as every parent, such as, for example, parental benefit.
You can learn more about the support for adopters and the amount in the relevant Government Decision.
Read more about adoption.