New rules for assigning benefits in Kazakhstan: who will be checked first

Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan will launch a pilot project introducing a needs-based approach on January 1, 2027. The methodology will first be tested on citizens with high incomes and then on wealthy Kazakhstanis, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev said at a government meeting.

“In January and February, the pilot will be tested among citizens with high incomes, and from February through April — among wealthy citizens,” the minister said.

According to him, work on the mechanisms for introducing the new approach will be completed in November, while in December the Digital Family Card will be integrated with the systems of second-tier banks. The ministry is also carrying out an information campaign to explain the goals of the reform and how it will be implemented.
What will be taken into account when assessing a family’s situation
The methodology for assessing a family’s social well-being has been revised to better reflect citizens’ actual circumstances. The assessment will take into account income and credit obligations, including mortgages, the ownership and condition of cars and agricultural machinery, household expenses, as well as situations where a family has only one breadwinner or owns only one home.
The Minister of Labor and Social Protection noted that the first stage will assess how effective the optimization of social assistance is. A decision on further expansion of the approach will be made based on the results of the pilot project.

“This work will continue comprehensively, together with regional akimats and relevant ministries,” the minister said.

New rules for granting benefits in Kazakhstan
From January 1, 2027, the needs-based principle will begin to be applied when granting certain forms of state social support. A family’s level of well-being will be determined using data from the Digital Family Card. The assessment will take into account the household’s financial situation and social stability. Owning an apartment, a car or having a loan will not automatically mean that a family is considered well-off: the overall combination of indicators will be assessed.