Starting from January 26, 2026, a draft law regarding amendments to the Law "On State Benefits in the Kyrgyz Republic" will be discussed in Kyrgyzstan. The initiator of this draft law is the deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh, Akylbek Tumanbaev.
As stated in the justification for the document, its purpose is to support the state demographic policy aimed at increasing the population. It also emphasizes the expansion of social support for large families and those with minor children, as well as the elimination of excessive and discriminatory conditions for the appointment of benefits.
Changes to benefits for high-altitude regions
The draft law proposes changes regarding the monthly benefit "assistance to residents of high-altitude areas" for the third and subsequent children until they reach the age of three. The current norm allows benefits only for families whose third child is born starting from January 1, 2026. The initiator believes this creates social inequality.
It is proposed to introduce transitional provisions that will allow families with third and subsequent children born before 2026 to receive benefits, provided that they are not yet three years old at the time of application. This decision is intended to restore social justice and expand the coverage of state support for families in similar high-altitude conditions.
Abandonment of property criteria for benefits
The draft law also plans to revise the mechanism for determining the neediness of families. Currently, when appointing benefits, the presence of property, including household appliances, livestock, and transport, is taken into account, which does not always reflect the real income level, especially in rural areas.
To enhance the targeting and transparency of the system, it is proposed to:
- establish that the only criterion for neediness will be the total income of the family;
- exclude the consideration of property when appointing benefits;
- abandon the practice of property surveys.
Additional payments for Hero Mothers
The draft law also proposes to increase social support for Hero Mothers. Currently, they receive a monthly benefit equal to the basic part of the pension, which does not compensate for their contribution to the demographic development of the country.
In this regard, it is proposed to establish an additional payment of 5,000 soms for Hero Mothers. According to the Social Fund, there are more than 31,000 Hero Mothers registered in Kyrgyzstan. The adoption of these changes will require about 1.8 billion soms per year to finance the additional payments.
Foreign experience
The justification also mentions the successful experience of Kazakhstan, where, starting in 2024, a state program is being implemented to create a start-up capital for children using the investment income of the National Fund. This approach views support for children as a long-term investment in human capital and can serve as an example for strategic social policy.
According to the initiator, the proposed changes will help improve the financial situation of families in challenging natural and climatic conditions, reduce poverty levels among large families, and create additional incentives for population retention in high-altitude and border areas of the country.
