Kazakhstan ranks first among Central Asian countries in social protection coverage of the population. According to the International Labour Organization, this figure stands at 94.3%. At the same time, from 2027 the country will change the procedure for assigning certain benefits – the material situation of families will be taken into account when distributing assistance. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

It is worth noting that from 2027 certain social payments in Kazakhstan will be assigned taking into account the level of family welfare. It is assumed that affluent citizens will not be able to claim some benefits. The main goal of the changes is to direct state assistance to those who truly need it.

Kazakhstan outpaces neighboring countries in social protection coverage

According to the latest available data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Kazakhstan ranks first among the five countries of Central Asia in social protection coverage of the population.

In Kazakhstan, this figure stands at 94.3%.

For comparison, in Uzbekistan it reaches 56%, in Kyrgyzstan – 42.9%, in Turkmenistan – 42.7%, and in Tajikistan – 34.1%.

At the same time, the indicator covers not only citizens who receive monetary social payments, but also those who contribute to the social insurance system.

Thus, the figure of 94.3% reflects how broadly the social protection system covers citizens.

Another important indicator is the Human Development Index, which is calculated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to UNDP data, Kazakhstan ranks 60th among 193 countries and territories with an index of 0.837.

This is the highest figure in Central Asia. Moreover, Kazakhstan remains the only country in the region that falls into the category of states with a very high level of human development.

The index is calculated based on three main factors: life expectancy, level of education and income of the population.

These data show Kazakhstan's position against the backdrop of other states in the region. At the same time, high international indicators do not exclude existing problems in the social sphere. Therefore, one of the tasks remains to preserve the achieved results and further develop the system of support for the population.

International organizations pay special attention to how targeted social payments are distributed.

According to the World Bank's assessment, 82.5% of recipients of targeted social assistance (TSA) in Kazakhstan and their family members are among the 20% of the country's residents with the lowest incomes.

This means that targeted social assistance mainly goes to low-income citizens.

However, the changes planned for 2027 will affect a broader range of benefits. When assigning them, it is planned to take into account the material situation of families in order to primarily support those experiencing financial difficulties.

During the transition to the new rules, three issues will be of particular importance: the reliability of data on families, the accessibility of information about the changes and the possibility of reviewing decisions.

When determining need, it is important to take into account not only income and property, but also real life circumstances.

For example, it is necessary to take into account how many family members live on one income, what part of the funds has to be directed to treatment and whether there are relatives in need of constant care.

The mere presence of housing or a car does not always mean that a family has sufficient funds for everyday expenses.

It is equally important to update information about the material situation of citizens in a timely manner. A family's financial situation can change quickly, so decisions made on the basis of outdated information may not reflect its real need.

Every family should understand in advance exactly what changes will affect it, on the basis of what data the decision on assigning a benefit will be made and what assistance it can count on.

This is especially important for citizens who are already planning a family budget taking into account social payments. Advance information will allow them to understand how their incomes may change after the introduction of the new rules.

When assessing the material situation, errors may occur both on the part of citizens and in information systems.

For example, state databases may contain incorrect information, or a family may be mistakenly assigned to a different category of welfare.

In such cases, citizens should have the opportunity to achieve a review of the decision without unnecessary difficulties. It is important that the correction of errors does not turn into a lengthy appeal to various authorities.

Thus, international indicators testify to the broad coverage of Kazakhstan's population by social protection and the country's high position in the region in terms of the Human Development Index. The upcoming changes are intended to make the distribution of certain benefits more targeted.