Starting January 26, 2026, a draft law will be presented for public discussion, proposing amendments to the Law "On State Benefits in the Kyrgyz Republic." The initiator of this draft law is Deputy Akylbek Tumonbaev of the Jogorku Kenesh.
According to the justification, the aim of the document is to support the state demographic policy aimed at increasing the country's population. It also provides for the expansion of social assistance to large families and families with children, as well as the elimination of excessive requirements that may lead to discrimination in the allocation of benefits.
Increasing Assistance to Families in Mountain Regions
The proposed amendments concern the monthly benefit "Assistance to Residents of High Mountain Areas," which is granted for the third and subsequent children up to three years of age. Currently, the benefit is only available to families whose third child was born after January 1, 2026. The initiator considers this provision unfair.
It is planned to introduce transitional rules allowing the benefit to be granted to families where the third and subsequent children were born before 2026, provided that the child is not yet three years old at the time of application. This decision, according to the authors, will help restore fairness and increase the coverage of state assistance for families living under equal conditions in high mountain areas.
Cancellation of Property Criteria for Receiving Benefits
The draft law also proposes a revision of the criteria for assessing family need. Currently, the presence of property such as household appliances, livestock, and vehicles is taken into account when allocating benefits, which does not always reflect the actual 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 need is the total income of the family;
- exclude the consideration of property when allocating benefits;
- abandon the practice of property surveys.
The draft law also provides for enhanced support for hero mothers. Currently, they receive a benefit equivalent to the basic part of the pension, which, according to the developers, is insufficient to compensate for their contribution to the demographic development of the country.
It is proposed to establish a monthly supplement of 5,000 soms for hero mothers. According to the Social Fund, there are over 31,000 hero mothers in Kyrgyzstan. If the amendments are adopted, approximately 1.8 billion soms will be required annually for these payments.
Example from International Practice
The justification also mentions the successful experience of Kazakhstan, where, starting in 2024, a program is being implemented to create start-up capital for children funded by the National Fund's revenues. This approach views support for children as an investment in the future and could serve as a model for strategic social policy.
The initiator of the draft law believes that the proposed changes will improve the financial situation of families living in difficult conditions, reduce poverty levels among large families, and create additional incentives for population retention in high mountain and border areas of the country.
