News

16 October 2025

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva sent a recommendation to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov, proposing that the requirement for citizens to submit an annual income certificate from their employer in order to continue receiving monthly child allowances be abolished.

The Ombudsman Institution receives numerous complaints from citizens who insist on easing the administrative burden when receiving family allowances. They express confusion as to why they have to submit certificates and fill out new declarations every year, given that the relevant institutions—the National Revenue Agency and the National Social Security Institute—already have the necessary information and can perform an official check," writes the public defender.

In her recommendation, Delcheva emphasizes that after the declaration is submitted, the employees of the Social Assistance Directorate conduct an official check of the declared data anyway, which makes the annual requirement for a certificate unnecessary and ineffective.

The Ombudsman also notes that the measure creates unnecessary administrative difficulties, especially for parents who are no longer employed or are in a tense relationship with their former employer.

Delcheva justified her proposal by pointing out that a public debate is currently underway on the bill amending and supplementing the Family Allowances for Children Act, which provides a good opportunity to subsequently amend the Regulations for the Implementation of the Act (Article 17, paragraph 3, item 1), so that the requirement to submit a certificate of the family's gross monthly income for the last 12 months is removed.

The Ombudsman expresses confidence that the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy will demonstrate understanding and take action to reduce the administrative burden and facilitate access to family allowances for parents and children.