The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, through the Social Assistance Agency (SAA), is launching a large-scale financial assistance program for families with students for the upcoming 2025/2026 school year. The initiative provides a one-time cash benefit of 300 leva for children studying in state, municipal, and private educational institutions.
The financial support covers a wide range of beneficiaries, including parents, adoptive parents, foster families, guardians, and custodians. The assistance is intended to compensate for part of the expenses related to preparing students at the beginning of the school year.
Applications can be submitted through several alternative methods: in person at Social Assistance Directorates (SAD), through a licensed postal operator, with an electronic signature, or via electronic administrative service. The deadline for submitting documents is October 15, 2025.
An important condition is the provision of necessary documents, including a school enrollment certificate, especially for first-graders and eighth-graders. For students in second, third, and fourth grades, such a document is not required due to their automatic progression to the next grade.
The payment mechanism for the assistance provides for installment receipt of the amount - the first half is granted after the order takes effect, and the remaining 150 leva are provided at the beginning of the second semester, provided that the child continues to regularly attend the educational institution.
There are specific circumstances under which the assistance is subject to reimbursement. These include cases where the student does not enroll in school, interrupts their education, or has more than 5 unexcused absences within one month.
Statistics from the previous 2024/2025 school year show the scale of the program - financial support was provided to 232,601 families, covering a total of 251,167 students.
Detailed information and necessary forms can be found on the official website of the Social Assistance Agency: https://asp.government.bg in the "Social Assistance" section, subsection "Family Benefits".
Experts from the SAA recommend that interested parents familiarize themselves with the conditions in advance and prepare the necessary documents to avoid delays in applying.