What are the main changes to the cash assistance programme? Why are these changes being implemented now? (…)

The main change involves adjusting the criteria for qualifying refugees to receive cash assistance to ensure that the available support reaches those who are most in need. This includes conducting the assessment interviews for all refugees receiving cash assistance. As a result of the assessment, some refugees who used to receive cash assistance will no longer continue receiving it.  

Two years into the refugee emergency, the amount of humanitarian funding available for the refugee response is going down. As a result, UNHCR needs to ensure that the limited resources that it has available are directed towards the most vulnerable refugees. The cash assistance programme for refugees aims to ensure refugees can meet their basic needs in the short term as they integrate into the local community, find employment, and support their families through their resources. UNHCR understands that there is a broad need for financial assistance, but is not able to maintain the degree of support that it has provided in the past.  

Yes, it is important that you attend the interview. 

UNHCR is adjusting the criteria for refugees to receive cash assistance. This is to ensure that available support reaches those who are most in need. For this purpose, we need to conduct the assessment interview with everyone currently receiving cash assistance. Additionally, the interview will also serve as a regular verification interview. Failure to attend may result in a loss of cash assistance in subsequent months. 

Yes, kindly make sure that you attend the interview. This interview serves as both an assessment and a verification exercise. 

If you or one of your family members missed the assessment/verification interview, then you can call the cash assistance helpline number 080010823 or approach a cash enrolment centre to ask for a new interview date. Please be informed that you will be asked for the reasons for your no-show for the initial appointment.  

You must attend with all family members currently registered for cash assistance and currently residing in the Republic of Moldova. 

If you haven’t received an SMS yet, don’t worry.  UNHCR will be inviting all refugees receiving cash assistance for the assessment, and it may take some time to reach everyone. Please ensure that your phone is turned on and accessible. If you have changed the phone number that you have registered with UNHCR, please update it by calling the cash assistance helpline number 080010823.

UNHCR and partner organizations will ask you a set of questions to better understand your current situation and determine your level of vulnerability. That may include but is not limited to a combination of different factors such as your family composition, accommodation, health, specific needs, and ability to earn income.  

Please bring your essential documents such as any ID document provided by the Government of Moldova (Temporary protection identity card, asylum-seeker certificate, refugee status beneficiary ID, stateless status ID, stateless applicant certificate, humanitarian protection ID, resident permit), national passport, national ID card, birth certificate, medical reports (if any), disability certificate (even is expired) etc. 

It is your choice whether or not to participate in the assessment interview. Please note, however, that the assessment will be made for all current cash beneficiaries based on available information. The assessment allows you to fully explain your needs and capacities regarding accommodation, health, socio-economic status, and necessities, so it is in your interest to attend. This information is essential to allow for a full consideration of your family’s eligibility for cash assistance. 

Your decision to answer questions is fully based on your consent and will be respected. Just remember, the more information you provide, the better UNHCR can understand and determine your family’s eligibility for assistance. All information collected will be CONFIDENTIAL. Also, if there is any sensitive information you wish to share, trained staff from the cash enrollment centre’s protection desks will be available to discuss this with you in a confidential space. 

UNHCR uses a scoring system to assess vulnerabilities and needs. Assistance is prioritized for those deemed most vulnerable. 

You will receive an SMS in June informing you of your continued eligibility for the programme.  

As communicated previously in December 2023, UNHCR has planned to change the eligibility criteria in the first quarter of 2024. UNHCR expects to begin discontinuing cash support for those found ineligible for its programme under the new eligibility criteria as of June 2024. It is therefore extremely important that you begin to plan now for the possibility that you will be found ineligible for continued support. 

It is important to understand that a decision to discontinue cash support does not mean that you are not considered vulnerable or that you do not need financial support.  It simply means that other refugees in the country have greater vulnerabilities and need the cash support more. UNHCR needs to focus its available resources on these individuals.  If you believe, however, that you did not have an opportunity to raise an important factor in your case during your assessment interview, you can inform UNHCR at Complaint Online Form.  UNHCR and its partners will review the information provided and follow up as needed.  

No. Unless you arrived in Moldova within the past two months, you need to secure a legal status in the Republic of Moldova to be eligible for UNHCR cash assistance unless you are unable to do so for reasons beyond your control. Once you have obtained a legal status, you may be considered for assistance based on the new eligibility criteria. The legal status in Moldova includes temporary protection, asylum-seeker, refugee status, stateless applicants and status holders, persons with humanitarian protection and persons with other residence permits.   

Yes.  All individuals currently benefiting from UNHCR’s cash assistance programme will be called for a vulnerability assessment interview.  Those individuals with Moldovan citizenship or with dual Moldovan/Ukrainian citizenship who meet the new eligibility criteria will continue to receive UNHCR cash support as efforts are undertaken to transition them to other available support programmes.   

Newcomers are entitled to receive two months of assistance to help them settle into the country. During these two months, you will be invited for an assessment interview to determine your eligibility for ongoing assistance. Additionally, it’s important to secure legal status in the country during this period. If you encounter difficulties in obtaining legal status due to circumstances beyond your control, you can seek support from protection desks located in the cash enrolment centres. 

All members of your household, including all children you are caring for, should come with you to your assessment interview. If you are caring for a child who is not your biological child or legally adopted child, please bring any paperwork you have showing that you have a legal responsibility to care for the child, such as a power of attorney document, if you have it. A colleague from the Protection Desk will talk to you and the child to better understand your situation, your relationship, and any support you may need.  

If you are a person with disabilities and/or severe medical conditions and you are unable to approach a cash enrolment centre, please call: 0 800 10 823 to request a home visit and the team will conduct the assessment directly at your place of residence. If, one member of the family is a person with disability and/or has a severe medical condition the entire household can conduct the assessment at home together. 

UNHCR will continue to assess its cash assistance programme for refugees considering available resources and other developments.  UNHCR will keep refugees informed of any planned changes as needed.