Kazakhstan plans to change how some social benefits are calculated starting in 2027: despite an increase in the monthly calculation index (MRP), certain payments may remain at their current levels. This is according to the draft republican budget for 2027–2029, published by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as reported by infohub.kz.
Under the document, the MRP is expected to rise by 8.5% in 2027 to 4,693 tenge, up from the current 4,325 tenge. Typically, an increase in the MRP automatically led to higher benefits tied to this indicator. However, the new draft budget proposes keeping the MRP for calculating certain types of social assistance at the 2026 level.
Paragraph 1 of Article 11 of the draft states that the MRP for calculating social benefits for certain categories of citizens will remain at 4,325 tenge. This applies to benefits provided for in subparagraphs 1), 6), and 9) of paragraph 1 of Article 10 of the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as Articles 6 and 7 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On State Special Benefits for Persons Who Worked in Underground and Open-Pit Mining, in Jobs with Especially Harmful and Especially Hard Working Conditions, or in Jobs with Harmful and Hard Working Conditions," and paragraph 4 of Article 945 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Special Part).
Thus, recipients of the following types of state assistance will not see an increase in payments: social protection for families with children (benefits for childbirth, child care, large families, etc.); social assistance to certain categories of citizens in the form of special state benefits (veterans of the Great Patriotic War, persons equated to them, citizens awarded the title "Halyk Kaharmany"); and a one-time burial payment in the event of the death of a recipient of old-age pension payments or state basic pension payments, as well as state social benefits.
A similar situation is emerging with the subsistence minimum (SM). Overall, the indicator will rise from 50,851 to 55,173 tenge, but for calculating some benefits, its size will remain at 50,851 tenge. This will affect payments to persons specified in subparagraphs 5), 6-1), and 8) of paragraph 1 of Article 10 of the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At the same time, the amendments do not affect targeted social assistance to persons (families) with per capita income not exceeding the poverty line. For them, the MRP and SM will be applied at the new rates.
Thus, if the draft republican budget is adopted, some benefits in 2027 will remain at the 2026 level, despite the overall increase in the MRP and SM.