Kazakhstan's Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population has clarified which families fall into categories A and B — the high and well-off levels of wellbeing, the website infohub.kz reports.
It was previously reported that in Kazakhstan a family can be assigned to one of five social wellbeing categories: A — high level of wellbeing; B — well-off level of wellbeing; C — satisfactory level of wellbeing; D — economically vulnerable level of wellbeing; E — economically and socially vulnerable level of wellbeing.
Today, on the Ministry of Labor's website, officials explained how families are assigned specifically to the first two categories — A and B — which are characterized by a high level of material security.
When determining a category, a combination of indicators is taken into account, including financial standing, ownership of several properties, expensive cars, a business of one's own and substantial land holdings.
"In particular, one of the criteria is the level of financial security — from 7 subsistence minimums per family member. Also taken into account are the ownership of several residential properties with an area of at least 120 conventional square meters per person, luxury-class cars, commercial real estate, large, medium and small businesses, as well as significant areas of land, and so on," the Ministry of Labor explained.
It is specified, however, that the presence of one of the listed attributes does not mean a family is automatically assigned to category A or B. The assessment is carried out comprehensively, taking into account the full set of indicators characterizing a family's material wellbeing and social stability.
"Data from government information systems are used to determine the category. In particular, account is taken of financial standing, employment of family members, housing conditions, property, vehicles, credit obligations, ownership of a business, land plots, a personal subsidiary farm, as well as the family's social characteristics. Thus, owning an apartment, a car or any other individual asset is not in itself grounds for recognizing a family as high-income. The final category is determined by the full set of data taken into account," the ministry added.
It is noted that a social wellbeing category is not permanent. If a family's life circumstances, material situation, composition or property holdings change, the assessment may be revised on the basis of updated data from government information systems.
It was previously reported that from January 1, 2027, certain types of benefits, as well as the one-time funeral payment, will be provided in Kazakhstan on the principle of need — based on an objective assessment of a family's level of social wellbeing.
Later, the Ministry of Labor explained to Kazakhstanis how the assessment of a family's level of wellbeing is calculated — 59 indicators are taken into account.
Olzhas Bektenov also commented on the reform, saying that "the rich should rely on their own resources."
And the head of the Ministry of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, responded as to how many Kazakhstanis fall into the "high" and "well-off" levels of wellbeing.