Overview
In 1991 Moldova set up the Social Assistance Fund and the Social Security Fund (SSF). The SSF is composed of the Pension Fund, the Social Insurance Fund, the Unemployment Fund, and the Reserve Fund.
Sickness and Maternity benefits
Sickness benefit: Pay related
The level of benefit depends on the length of covered employment. For less than 5 years, the benefit is 60% of the reference salary; between 5 years and 8 years, 80%; and for more than 8 years, the benefit is 100%. Benefit is payable from the third day of sickness for up to 4 months.
Maternity benefit: Pay Related
Maternity leave starting from the 30th day of pregnancy for 126 days. Additional leave of 14 days is provided for cases of multiple births or complications resulting from childbirth. The benefit is 100% of the average wage during the last 2 months. In cases of adoption, benefit is paid for 56 days after the date of adoption.
Sickness/ Maternity Benefits :Medical Related
Medical care is provided by the state. The insured make a minimal contribution toward the cost of medical care above the minimum rate. There is no limit to duration. Free hospital treatment is provided for a limited number of days according to social category.
Dependents’ Medical Benefits
Same as for the insured, above.
Administrative Organization
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection provides general supervision of benefits.
Ministry of Health, in conjunction with local authorities and the trade unions, supervises the provision of medical care.
Ministry of Health and local health departments administer medical services provided through clinics, hospitals, and other facilities.
Disability Benefits
Temporary Disability Benefits; Pay related
At least a 25% loss of working capacity. The benefit is 100% of average earnings in the last 6 months before the onset of disability, payable from the first day of incapacity until recovery or until the award of a disability pension.
Permanent Disability Benefits: Pay related
Benefit is paid according to three groups of disability and is based on covered annual wage in the last 6 months.
Disability benefits : Medical related
Medical services provided directly to patients by governmental health providers include general and specialist care, hospitalization, laboratory services, transportation, plus the full cost of appliances and medicines.
Administrative Organization
Enterprises and employers pay temporary disability benefits for their employees.
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection provides general coordination and supervision of pensions.
Ministry of Health and health departments of local governments provide general supervision and coordination of medical care.
Ministry of Health and local health departments administer medical services provided through clinics, hospitals, and other facilities.
Family Benefits
Qualifying Conditions
Family allowances: Children under age 16 (age 18 if a student). Other qualifying conditions may vary according to benefits. For children older than age 15, entitlement is means-tested. The monthly income for each family member, including children, should not exceed 18 lei; for families with at least three children, 27 lei; for single mothers, 57 lei.
Family Allowance Benefits
Family allowances: For children up to age 15, 75 lei a month for an insured person and 50 lei for a noninsured person. For a child aged 15 and older, 25 lei a month.
Birth grant: A lump sum of 370 lei for the first child of an insured person and 250 lei for each subsequent child. A lump sum of 245 lei for the first child of a noninsured person and 165 lei for each subsequent child.
Benefit adjustment: Periodic benefit adjustments for allowances to children under age 6 are based on changes in the minimum wage, plus ad hoc flat-rate payments to offset price increases as a result of the government’s cutbacks in food and fuel subsidies. Adjustments of allowances to children aged 6 and older are subject to changes that are not necessarily indexed to changes in the minimum wage.
Administrative Organization
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection provides general oversight of the program.
Local departments of social security administer benefit awards and payments to nonworking parents.
Enterprises and employers make benefit awards and provide payments to their own employees.
Unemployment Benefits
Coverage

Citizens aged 18 to 59 years (men) or 18 to 54 years (women). Registered at an employment office and willing and able to work. Benefits may be reduced, postponed, suspended, or terminated if the worker is discharged for violating work discipline, leaving employment without good cause, violating conditions for a job placement or vocational training, or for filing fraudulent claims.
Qualifying Conditions
Claimants must have no income and have been salaried for at least 6 months in the last 12 months preceding unemployment. Waiting periods apply for some categories of worker: 2 months for the nonvoluntarily unemployed, 60 days for recently graduated students, and 30 days for ex-servicemen on the completion of military service.

Unemployment benefit
The benefit for persons who have been employed for 6 months to 10 years is equal to 50% of the national average wage; for 10 years to 15 years of employment, the benefit is 55%; for 15 years and more, the benefit is 60%. Benefit adjustment: Every January, in accordance with changes to the average national wage of the previous year
The benefit amount is reduced by 15% every 3 months but cannot be less than the minimum salary (18 lei).
Family supplement: For one or two children, 10%; for three or more children, 20%..
Services for the Children
The National Council On Child’s Rights Protection is a governmental body responsible for child rights protection;
State Social Assistance available for children and families at risk:
a. Social allowances (money). Allowances
17 – starting with January 2004 low-income families with children receive allowance (~4 USD per child);
b. Services of social assistance that include:
- Communities’ social services (day care centers, temporary centers, family-like residential houses, tutelage, and professional parental assistance), Institutionalization of children in need. Community services of social assistance for children are not developed, and in practice are not available. (Source: UNICEF Programme of Cooperation UNICEF – Government of the Republic of Moldova 2002-2006, Child Protection Programme)
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