In Latvia, the Ministry of Finance (FM) in partnership with the Ministry of Welfare (LM) is working on amendments to the Credit Institutions Law designed to alleviate the burden of document submission for current and potential clients of municipal social services. The intention is to streamline access to social services or social assistance for individuals in need, ensuring that the bureaucratic process does not hinder their access to necessary aid.

The proposed amendments would allow municipal social services to obtain confidential information from credit institutions regarding an individual's payment history, securities, investments, savings, and postal account statements. This would be done upon request from the social service, based on an individual’s application aimed at assessing their material condition. This modification recognizes the challenges faced by low-income individuals who often struggle with document requirements in accessing social support benefits.

The FM highlighted that the provision of social services and assistance will continue to depend on the evaluation of an individual's material and social circumstances. Hence, the amendments focus on enhancing the capacity of social services to assess these situations more effectively, reducing the documentation needed from clients while ensuring that support is directed where it is most needed. These changes could significantly impact the lives of those on the margins of society, providing them with a more accessible path to the aid they require.