Since the implementation of Serbia’s Social Card Law three years ago, the number of people receiving cash social assistance has continued to decrease. As of March 1, 2025, only 152,982 beneficiaries remain, a drop from 168,000 last year. The Initiative for Economic and Social Rights A11 reports that nearly 60,000 citizens have lost access to assistance due to algorithmic decision-making processes, which have led to inaccuracies in income and employment assessments. Critics argue that the system, intended to automate and streamline decision-making, has inadvertently excluded individuals who did not violate the law but were caught in flawed digital processes.
Key issues include the wrongful inclusion of seasonal work as disqualifying income, discrepancies between reported and actual income, and the reduced role of social workers in evaluating individual cases. Experts suggest the need for improvements in the system to better support those still in need of assistance.
