As per the amendments coming into force on July 21, care for incapacitated individuals will be counted toward determining the right to the unified allowance only when it comes to close relatives. Today, periods of care for a person with a disability or an elderly person are factored in regardless of the kinship.
As per the rules in force, in order to receive the unified allowance, working-age parents shall have an income not below the required threshold. Lack of income is permitted for valid reasons, such as if a parent is caring for a person with a Group I disability or an 80-year-old person requiring supervision.
Starting July 21, the period of such care will be considered a valid reason for lack of income for the unified allowance's purposes only if the applicant or members of their family cared for a close relative: a child, parent, brother or sister, grandmother, grandfather, or grandchild.
In such cases, documents supporting kinship with the person being cared for have to be submitted to a client office of the Social Fund. It could be, for example, a birth or marriage certificate.
Remember that providing care for an incapacitated person is accepted as a valid reason for lack of income if the corresponding period is officially registered with the Social Fund and lasted for 10 or more months during the calculation period (12 months preceding the month of application for the unified allowance, separated from it by one extra month). If the care was provided for less than the specified time, it is counted proportionally.