Social and Retirement Payments Will be Raised in Kazakhstan

In a statement to the people of Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the country’s government will support vulnerable social groups.

«I gave an order to index pensions and state benefits, including targeted social assistance, by 10% in annual terms. This means an increase in the income of the corresponding categories of our citizens for a total of more than 200 billion tenge,» he said. 

According to his statement, the list of citizens who are eligible for social benefits of 42,500 tenge (roughly $95) will also include people with no official employment history. 

Thus, the number of recipients of this support program will increase from 1.5 million to three million people. 

On March 16, 2020, Kazakhstan declared an emergency because of the fast spread of new coronavirus. To cushion the negative results of this crisis, the government has allocated $10 billion.

As of March 31, 340 cases of new coronavirus were reported in Kazakhstan, with 22 recovered and two dead. 

The first case of new infection was registered on March 13, 2020. On March 16 President Tokayev put into force an emergency declaration that will last until April 15. On March 19 Nur-Sultan and Almaty were closed for quarantine.