Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that Georgia’s social assistance registry needs review, as preliminary analysis shows that around 8% of recipients are actually financially well-off. He explained that the number of beneficiaries increased during the pandemic due to a temporary moratorium, and verification processes were largely paused.
Kobakhidze emphasized that it is unacceptable for social benefits to expand while poverty has significantly decreased in the country. Of the roughly 700,000–800,000 beneficiaries, 8% are identified as wealthy, with incomes above the poverty line and belonging to a financially secure category. Updating the registry, he said, is a top government priority.
According to the Social Services Agency, over 710,000 people received social benefits in January 2026, including around 246,000 participants in the state employment program. Compared to December, the number of beneficiaries increased by approximately 2,200.
The government also plans to end the employment program from 2026, which previously provided recipients with 300 GEL per month. Officials say the move addresses the labor shortage by sending social assistance recipients into the open job market, though it remains unclear whether participants will retain their social benefit status alongside this income.
