This morning (15.7.2020), we sent the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance our comments regarding a Law Memorandum on the Financial Aid Plan (New Corona Virus) (Temporary Provisions), 2020. In our opinion, the law leaves out two population sectors - those dependent on pensions and provisions from the National Insurance Institute, and those who are ineligible for annuities or other benefits such as grants. Based on this we requested to:
Increase assistance to those receiving National Insurance pensions;
Expand the eligibility for pensions and other support from National Insurance;
Grant benefits to the general public affected by the crisis who are otherwise ineligible for assistance from National Insurance.
In the comments, Attorney Maskit Bendel listed the following demands:
Establish an emergency helpline.
Automatically postpone every ongoing payment or debt to the country or municipality, as well as institutions supported by the country such as early education facilities.
Instruct banks to extend the mortgage freeze.
Widen and strengthen the mechanisms in the National Insurance Institute aimed at assessing pension claims retroactively after the transfer of basic subsistence at the level of guaranteed income.
Widen the span of assistance provided to those receiving subsistence pensions via grants.
Lower the age elegibility to receive unemployment benefits to 18-years-old.
Provide unemployment even to those who have worked less than 6 months.
Freeze the collection of debts to the National Insurance Institute out of pensions and unemployment benefits.
Declare the period of the adjustment grant for people aged 67 and older to be equal to the period of unemployment for young unemployed people, lasting until mid-2021.
Forbid the disconnection of electricity to those unable to pay their electric bill, following a quick verification process.
Forbid collection from those unable to pay their electric bill by forcing them to install a prepaid meter, following a quick verification process, and instruct the Electric Company to immediately stop charging debts out of prepaid meters.
Expand the household water allotment in rate A.