In recent days, some internet media resources spread information with reference to the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Azerbaijan that the funds allocated to the State Committee from the state budget in 2020-2022 for the purpose of financing the single monthly allowance and utility bills for IDPs and persons equivalent to them were not used correctly, that is, conditions were created for the formation of additional demand for budget expenditures in the amount of 20.1 million manats.
In this regard, we note that the cases identified in the State Committee as a result of the audit conducted by the Chamber of Accounts this year and covering 2020-2022 due to improper use of budget funds are mainly related to the single monthly allowance for IDPs.
Payment of a single monthly allowance in lieu of food expenses allowance, as well as payments from the state budget for utilities and other services for IDPs and persons equivalent to them is regulated by the Regulation approved by the decision No. 11 dated January 24, 2017 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The audit determined that a number of requirements for categories to which monthly payments do not apply according to this Rule were not followed, and that the circumstances in which the payment of allowance was excluded were not fully taken into account.
The main part of the amount that is not considered correct in the Audit opinion, i.e. 70.6 percent (14.2 million manats) is the single monthly allowance paid to persons with IDP status during the period when they are engaged in entrepreneurial activity, and 22.4 percent (4.5 million manats) during their service in a special type of civil service.
49.4 percent (7338 people) of IDPs who received the single monthly allowance while engaged in entrepreneurial activity stopped their entrepreneurial activity at different times in 2020-2022, and based on preliminary data, 53.6 percent (1579 people) of the IDPs who served in a special type of civil service and received benefits during that period were terminated from their service in a special type of civil service in 2020-2022. Both cases, in accordance with the current rules, resulted in the restoration of the right of these persons to receive the single monthly allowance in the current period.
For information, we note that in order to ensure the efficiency of payment of the single monthly allowance for IDPs and optimize their management in this area, a corresponding information system was created on the “e-Government” portal in 2022.
Efficient use of funds allocated from the state budget to IDPs as citizens with special needs for social protection, optimization of activity in this area, increasing its effectiveness are the main tasks of the Committee and recommendations of the audit on full consideration of cases in which payment of the single monthly allowance is excluded will be implemented in the future.
