The Azerbaijani parliament approved the draft laws On the criteria of needs in 2012 and On the subsistence minimum for 2012. It is planned to increase the level of need criteria from the current 75 to 84 manat in 2012.up to 92 manat in 2013, to 100 manat in 2014 and to 106 manat in 2015. Minimum subsistence will be increased from the current 95 to 108 manat, including from 102 to 116 manat for the working-age population, from 72 to 84 manat for pensioners and from 76 to 87 manat for children.

The forecasted increase in the minimum subsistence level in Azerbaijan is 120.2 manat in 2013, 127.7 manat in 2014 and 135.1 manat for 2015.

In addition, the forecasted increase in the minimum subsistence level for able-bodied people is 130 manat in 2013, 138 manat in 2014, 146 manat in 2015, for pensioners is 101 manat in 2013, 107 manat in 2014, and 114 manat in 2015. For children it is 99 manat in 2013, 106 manat in 2014 and 112 manat in 2015.

Government plans to increase the minimum wage to 93.5 manat in 2012 compared to 2010 and 2011 where it was 85 manat have been put into action before the schedule. The minimum wage in the country was increased by 10 per cent to 93.5 manat by the presidential decree late in 2010.

By law, the minimum amount of social benefits is 10 manat in 2012 and each year this figure will rise by five manat, amounting to AZN 25 in 2015. The minimum amount of social benefits in 2011, as well as in previous years is 5 manat.
The minimum amount of scholarships for doctoral students and others isn’t expected to change prior to 2015. It remains at 30 manat in the next four years.

The official exchange rate on December 6 is 0.7865 AZN / USD.