What happened
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has submitted for public discussion a draft resolution of the Government on amendments and additions to Government Resolution of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 523 dated June 30, 2023. This resolution approved the Model Rules for providing social assistance, establishing its amounts, and determining the list of specific categories of needy citizens.
It is important to understand the status of the document: this is a draft, not an adopted regulatory legal act. It is posted on the "Open NPA" portal for public discussion, which will last until September 27, 2026. Until the discussion is completed and the act is officially adopted, the text may change, so practical decisions should be based on the current version of the Model Rules, not on the draft.
What the Model Rules regulate
The Model Rules, approved by Resolution No. 523, set the general framework for local executive bodies working with social assistance at the local level. Based on them, akimats and maslikhats form their own rules and decisions. Within this framework, the following, in particular, are regulated:
- the procedure for providing social assistance;
- approaches to establishing its amounts;
- determination of the list of specific categories of needy citizens who may be eligible for support.
Since these are "model" rules, changes at the federal level are usually subsequently reflected in regional acts. This means that adjustments at the Government level may over time affect local conditions for providing assistance.
Who this concerns
First and foremost, the document affects citizens who belong to specific categories of needy persons and apply for social assistance, as well as families facing difficult life circumstances.
In addition, the topic is important for specialists whose work is related to social protection and personnel processes:
- employees of local executive bodies and employment and social programs departments who apply the rules in practice;
- HR and social affairs specialists at enterprises who advise employees on support measures;
- public organizations and NGOs supporting vulnerable population groups.
What can be done during the discussion stage
The public discussion stage is an opportunity to influence the final version. While the draft is open, interested parties and organizations can review the text and submit comments and suggestions through the "Open NPA" portal.
Practical steps:
- Study the text of the draft and compare it with the current Model Rules to understand the essence of the proposed changes.
- Assess how the proposed norms may affect your category of applicants or processes in your organization.
- If you have substantiated comments, prepare and submit them within the discussion period.
- Track the status of the draft: after the discussion is completed, the document may be revised or adopted.
Deadlines
The key date for those who want to participate in the discussion is September 27, 2026. Until this date, the draft is under public discussion. The effective date of the changes is not specified in the source data and will be determined in the adopted act, so it is premature to rely on a specific timeframe for the application of the new norms.
Frequently asked questions
Are these already the effective rules? — No. This is a draft resolution that is under public discussion. Until it is adopted and officially published, the norms in the current version of Resolution No. 523 continue to apply.
Until what date is the draft under discussion? — Public discussion of the draft is scheduled until September 27, 2026.
Which agency developed the draft? — The draft was prepared by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
What exactly will change in the amounts and categories of recipients? — The draft introduces amendments and additions to the Model Rules; however, the specific new amounts and the updated list of categories should be checked in the text of the draft itself on the "Open NPA" portal and in the final adopted version.
Can the text of the document be influenced? — Yes. During the public discussion stage, any interested participant can submit comments and suggestions through the "Open NPA" portal before the discussion period ends.