According to Geostat data, in 2025 a total of 704,713 people received subsistence allowances, accounting for 17.9% of Georgia’s population. Of these, 240,381 individuals belonged to households where at least one member was involved in a state employment program, which has now been discontinued as of 2026. Under the new rules, no additional beneficiaries will be added, while those already employed under the program will be allowed to complete a four-year transition period.
Compared to 2024, the number of people receiving assistance increased by 5%, although the share of beneficiaries in the total population slightly declined from 18.1% to 17.9%. This indicates a modest shift in the overall distribution of social assistance despite higher absolute numbers.
In February, Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze announced a large-scale reassessment of socially vulnerable households, aiming to reduce the rapidly growing number of beneficiaries. The government currently spends over 71 million GEL per month on subsistence allowances and acknowledges that not all registered recipients are truly in need of state support.
Officials have cited cases where beneficiary households reportedly had substantial incomes and owned expensive vehicles, reinforcing the push for stricter verification and more targeted social assistance policies.
