rg.ru (20.03.2020) A hotline has been opened in Kazan for single elderly citizens in connection with the threat of the spread of coronavirus. Pensioners will be able to order food and medicine delivery by phone to their homes so that they do not go out into public places once again. According to the Rospotrebnadzor, people over the age of 60 are especially exposed to COVID-19. With the disease, the risk of complications, including viral pneumonia, is high. To provide the elderly with everything necessary will be specially formed units from social workers and volunteers.

 The Guardian (17.03.2020) New Zealand’s government has announced a spending package equivalent to 4% of GDP in an attempt to fight the effects of Covid-19 on the economy, in what ministers called the most significant peace-time economic plan in the country’s modern history. It includes covering wages for people who are required to self-isolate but cannot work from home, or those caring for relatives who are sick with the virus, even if they are not sick or do not test positive for Covid-19.

mitramiss.gob.es (17.03.2020)

12.03.2020

Hardship Fund – The government will provide Local Authorities in England with £500 million of new grant funding to support economically vulnerable people and households in their local area. The government expects most of this funding to be used to provide more council tax relief, either through existing Local Council Tax Support schemes, or through complementary reliefs. 

philstar.com (17.03.2020) The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has temporarily suspended the cash grants to beneficiaries of its poverty alleviation program in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The agency suspended the payouts for the  Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),  social pension and unconditional cash transfer (UCT) for indigents as well as the distribution of 4Ps cash cards and field surveys for the 2019 National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or the Listahanan.

pmo.gov.my (11.03.2020) UTRAJAYA. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government today launched a special fund which will give financial aid to those directly affected by the COVID-19 infection. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said for a start, RM1 million had been channelled into the fund to help COVID-19 patients and those under 14-day quarantine but not holding any jobs. “We don’t want their lives to be affected. So, this is one type of humanitarian aid we are giving.

(14.03.2020) As part of the response, the House passed H.R. 6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Here are some of the highlights in the bill:

Vox (07.02.2020)  Alaska’s small basic income is causing parents to have more kids.

computerweekly.com (04.10.2019) Local authorities in Sweden are using process automation through software to help social workers make decisions on benefits for claimants.

climatecentre (01.10.2019) The latest in a series of series of background papers commissioned by the Global Commission on Adaptation to inform its 2019 flagship report argues that better integration of social protection and climate adaptation is “critically important for addressing climate risks”.