Avtandil Matiashvili Left without Social Allowance Urge for Help

Ekaterine Chakhvashvili

Avtandil Matiashvili and his wife Marine Matiashvili living in Kardenakhi village, Gurjaani municipality lost social allowance. The Matiashvilis said when their health conditions worsened they lost social allowance and the pension is not enough for medicines.

In 2015 Avtandil Matiashvili was diagnosed with stomach cancer, for what he needed immediate surgical operation. He was operated on August 21, 2015 after what he needed chemotherapy. 

“I was recently operated on when social agent visited us to examine our family; I was in bed. As a result they granted high points to us for what we lost social allowance. I even presented medical notification on my health problems after what our family was re-examined but received high rating points again,” Avtandil Matiashvili said.

Representatives of the Social Agency said they could not change anything. The rating points can be changed only after a year when the social agent will fill in new declaration form on the family.

The Matiashvilis are not aware why they received high ratings.

“We have not purchased anything. I think it is unfair to stop allowance for impoverished family and leave them in poor state,” Avtandil Matiashvili said. 

The Matiashvilis petitioned to Davit Sergeenko, Minister of Healthcare, Labor and Social Welfare. They request to re-examine their family and grant new points.

The family applied to Human Rights Center’s Kakheti office for help. Lawyer Lia Khuroshvili of the Center said many people applied to the organization with similar problems.

According to the Social Agency, in May 2015, 447 000 citizens of Georgia had status of socially vulnerable persons while their number was reduced to 420 000 in October, 2015.