Bulgaria starts paying out a one-off €50 benefit today, October 1, to people living below the poverty line. More than 550,000 people and families across the country, including in Burgas and the region, will get the money, with payments going out in stages.

The scheme is ready and the funds are in place, labour and social policy minister Natalia Efremova told BNT, and it will take no more than 10 days to pay everyone. The payment is meant to help people cope with higher prices for fuel and food as inflation rises.

Also from today, a zero excise duty on propane-butane and natural gas kicks in and will run until December 31. Both moves are part of the government's package to tackle rising fuel and food prices.

The state is watching prices, inflation, the economy and how much people can afford to buy, Efremova said. "And if needed, we'll look at more steps to help people get through the hardest months of winter," she told BNT.

People asked about the payment say it won't be enough. One man said that where he used to spend 50 levs in the shop, he now pays €50 for the same goods, for the same people. "Everything costs money these days. €50 won't get you far — it's one shopping trip at today's prices," he said.