After being forcibly displaced from Artsakh, Mariam Badasyan was trying to start a new life in Armenia. However, she unexpectedly encountered a serious problem: the childcare benefit for her young daughter, Nane, had been discontinued, and money had been recovered from her bank account under the description “overpaid benefit.” These actions had been taken without any prior notice or explanation, leaving Mariam confused and uncertain about what to do. She subsequently learned from the Unified Social Service that the reason was her lack of registered residence in the Republic of Armenia, which she found even more difficult to understand.

Having learned about the Armrights.am platform, operated by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association to provide legal assistance to forcibly displaced persons, Mariam contacted the platform and received free legal support.

The ALA’s lawyers began examining the case. It soon became clear that the decisions concerning Mariam were not only erroneous but had also been made in violation of the law:

• She had a valid residence registration in the Republic of Armenia during the relevant period.
• She had never been notified that her registration had been terminated.
• Her right to be heard and the fundamental principles of administrative procedure had been violated.

The lawyers prepared substantiated applications and submitted them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The Ministry acknowledged that the notification intended for Mariam had not been delivered due to an oversight on its part. This failure had become the main reason for the discontinuation of the benefit.

Taking these circumstances into account, the ALA’s lawyers approached the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, requesting a comprehensive review of the case and a legal assessment of the violations committed during the administrative proceedings.

The well-substantiated arguments and legal position presented by the lawyers led to the case being reopened and re-examined by the relevant state authorities. The final decision fully restored the beneficiary’s rights:

• The childcare benefit for Nane was reinstated.
• The recovery of the funds was declared unlawful.
• The AMD 40,203 previously returned to the state budget was refunded.
• The discontinuation of the benefit was deemed unlawful.

Mariam noted: “It wasn’t the money that mattered most, but the fact that there was an organization willing to listen and help when I didn’t know what to do.”

This case demonstrates that appropriate legal assistance and a professional approach can resolve even problems that initially seem almost insurmountable.