Social Canteen

Legal framework

1. Law No 208/1997 on social welfare canteens;
2. Law No 143/2022 amending and supplementing Article 129 of Law No 272/2004 on the protection and promotion of the rights of the child and establishing social assistance measures.

Beneficiaries of the social canteen

a) Children up to the age of 18 who are dependants of families whose average monthly net income per dependant is less than the monthly net income for a single person taken into account when determining social assistance;

b) Young people attending day courses at educational institutions operating under the conditions laid down by law, up to the age of 25 years, but not exceeding 26 years in the case of those attending higher education of more than 5 years, who are in the situation referred to in point (a). a;

c) Persons receiving social assistance or other financial assistance granted under the law and whose income is up to the level of the net monthly income for a single person, taken into account in determining social assistance;

d) Pensioners;

e) Persons who have reached retirement age and are in one of the following situations: they are socially isolated, have no legal supporters, have no income;

f) The disabled and chronically ill;

g) Any person who temporarily does not earn income.

Persons in lit. g  benefit from the social canteen for a maximum of 90 days per year.

Required documents

1. Written request from a family member;
2. Proof of family composition in copy:

         - ID cards;

         - birth certificates of dependent children;

         - marriage certificate;

         - final decision granting the adoption, foster care of the minor;

         - the divorce decree if applicable;

         - a court decision whereby the spouse is remanded in custody or is serving a custodial sentence and does not participate in the maintenance of the children;

         - where appropriate, other documentary evidence of family composition.

3. Proof of family income: salary statements, meal vouchers, pension coupons, allowances, etc.
4. Documents proving that dependants are classified, according to the law, as severely disabled or severely disabled.