The Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic has presented for public discussion amendments to the Law "On State Benefits," concerning the introduction of a new benefit for newborns, named "Bala Irysy."
What is being proposed?
It is proposed to supplement Article 5 "On Types and Amounts of State Benefits" with a new clause that will pertain to a monthly benefit for children from birth until they reach the age of 3, called "Bala Irysy."
The amount of this benefit will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.
A new Article 10-4 is being introduced, dedicated to the assignment of the monthly benefit "Bala Irysy."
This benefit will be assigned to the child from the moment of birth until they reach 3 years of age, provided that an application is submitted and the child lives with the benefit recipient. If a woman gives birth to multiple children at the same time, the "Bala Irysy" benefit will be assigned for each of them. The benefit is also available for children born to women who are in places of deprivation of liberty.
Citizens (families) are entitled to receive the "Bala Irysy" benefit regardless of the existence of other types of state benefits, except for the monthly benefit "Assistance to Residents of High Mountain Areas."
The application for the benefit must be submitted within 3 years from the date of the child's birth.
The "Bala Irysy" payments will be terminated if they are not claimed within 6 months (for monthly social benefits – 12 months) from the date the amount is transferred, as well as upon the child's reaching three years of age.
Why is this necessary?
According to the National Statistical Committee, the level of child poverty in the country remains extremely high at 33.1%, while among the working-age population this figure is 25.7%, and among the elderly – 18.2%.
"Practically every third child lives in poverty. 14% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition and stunted growth. The nutrition of 75% of children aged 6 months to 1 year does not meet minimum health standards. Malnutrition and developmental delays in the first 1000 days of life negatively affect cognitive function, labor productivity, and lead to a high level of informal employment. Preliminary estimates indicate that this is already reducing the country's GDP by 10%. If current social protection measures remain unchanged, by 2050 the lost economic benefit could amount to 129 billion soms," notes the Ministry of Labor.
Currently, the main assistance for low-income families is the "Family Assistance" benefit, but it is assigned based on the family's income level and does not take into account the age of the children. Families with children under 3 years old are in a particularly high-risk zone for poverty due to rising costs for food, medical services, and care, as well as temporary income reductions (especially for mothers).
At the same time, 76% of poor families with children do not receive the "Family Assistance" benefit, and 47% of those who do receive it do not actually meet the poverty criteria. Additionally, insufficient integration of information systems leads to errors in determining eligibility for benefits and creates opportunities for corruption.
Thus, it was decided to introduce a new monthly benefit "Bala Irysy" in the amount of 1,200 soms for each child from birth until they reach 3 years of age, regardless of the family's income.
The "Bala Irysy" benefit will be in addition to the "Family Assistance" and aimed at:
improving nutrition and care for young children;
supporting the full cognitive development of the child;
reducing the financial burden on mothers;
decreasing the risk of poverty for families with small children;
preventing long-term social and economic losses.
It is expected that payments will begin on July 1, 2026. In Kyrgyzstan, there is also a one-time benefit "Balaga Suynchu" in the amount of 4,000 soms, as well as "Family Assistance" for low-income families.
