The number of Slovaks receiving subsistence benefits has been exceeding 180,000 for several months with May's figure from the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (ÚPSVaR) hitting 184,223, the TASR newswire reported.
According to ÚPSVaR, most of these subsistence benefits are aimed at helping families. The highest number of people are from Kosice Region (42,200), followed by Banská Bystrica Region (35,600) and Prešov Region (33,850). The lowest number of people receiving subsistence benefits is in Bratislava Region (4,900).
Though most of the benefits are granted to individuals, another 70,000 people live in the same households as these persons.
ÚPSVaR reported that the overall number of people living on the brink of poverty in Slovakia is more than 360,200 and this is 6.6 percent of Slovakia's population of 5.41 million.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.