Key Changes
According to the project, the guaranteed minimum income (GMI) will increase from 1,000 to 1,500 soms, and the requirements for receiving the allowance will become stricter. This is intended to help ensure support for truly needy families and reduce the number of those receiving benefits without justification, as noted in the justification.In 2025, over 3.2 billion soms were allocated for the "Үй-бүлөгө көмөк" allowance, and more than 162,000 citizens became its recipients. However, the high share of informal employment (over 63%) leads to the situation where the allowance is often received by non-poor families, while those who are genuinely in need remain without assistance.
The proposed project outlines new, stricter criteria for determining eligibility for the allowance:
- age of the vehicle - only vehicles older than 15 years will now be taken into account (previously - 20 years). If the vehicle is less than 15 years old, the allowance will not be granted;
- number of small livestock - increases from 4 to 5 heads per family member. If there are more livestock, the family will be considered well-off;
- real estate - families owning two or more residential properties will be excluded from the program (the second property is often rented out and generates income);
- duration of payment - for families with able-bodied but unemployed members, the allowance will be provided for only 6 months instead of 12.
There are also plans to update the income assessment system from land plots and improve data exchange between government agencies through the "Тундук" system.
Representatives of the Ministry of Labor emphasize that the situation in the country has changed, and the guaranteed minimum income has not been revised since 2009, remaining at 1,000 soms, despite inflation rising by nearly 40% and the subsistence minimum for a child increasing by 65.5%.
"Many poor families cannot receive the allowance due to outdated criteria. Increasing the GMI to 1,500 soms and adjusting the requirements will help rectify this situation, making the program fairer and more targeted. These changes are also part of the project 'Strengthening Social Assistance Programs and the Labor Market,' funded by the International Development Association ('World Bank')," the ministry added.
The project emphasizes that the goal of the changes is to encourage citizens to seek employment, and the proposed measures are aimed at more efficient use of budget funds and assisting those families that truly need support.
