President's Address to Nation: Kazakhstan increases public benefits - budget projects of Labor and Social Protection Ministry

The 2011 Address gives special attention to social modernization. Pensions, scholarships, salaries of state-run organizations' employees have been raised.

The National Platform of Nur Otan People's Democratic Party "For Kazakhstan's prosperity and Kazakhstanis' well-being: How we will improve every citizen's life" adopted in July 2007 aims at social payments' increase too.

In particular, in accordance with the document, childcare benefits will be raised not less than by 2.5 times. The benefits connected with the birth of the fourth or more children are planned to be increased too. New types of benefits have been introduced as well.

In compliance with the President's instructions and Nur Otan's National Platform, the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection approved by the Government's Resolution as of December 31, 2010 aims at significant increase in several social payments.

Thus, the expenditures for payment of benefits to the families having children will grow almost by 40% by 2030. The budgetary program Public benefits for families having children provides for social care of the families having children like payment of lump sum birth allowance, childcare benefit during a year, and the benefits for the parents, guardians bringing up disabled children.

The state plans to spend KZT 50 bln 500 mln for these purposes in 2011 while in 2010 this sum made KZT 43 bln 200 mln. In 2012 this figure will be raised up to KZT 54 bln 500 mln and in 2013 it will reach KZT 58 bln 900 mln. The lump sum birth allowance (for the first, second and third child) in 2011 will make KZT 46, 300 while in 2012 it will make KZT 48, 540 and in 2013 - KZT 51, 930. The lump sum allowance for the birth of the fourth and more children will make KZT 75, 600 in 2011, KZT 80, 900 - in 2012 and KZT 86, 550 - in 2013. Alongside, the officials predict that the average number of the recipients of public benefits in 2011 will make 568, 500 people, in 2012 - 574, 117 people and in 2013 - 579, 500 people.

In accordance with Provision of social assistance to repatriates program, the lump sum allowance for this group of Kazakhstan's population will be increased by 26% - from KZT 187, 700 in 2010 up to KZT 237, 200 by 2013. The number of quotas for our compatriots returning home will not be raised in the next three years and will remain at the same level - 20, 000. KZT 12 bln 055 mln will be spent for implementation of the program in 2011 in total. In 2012 this figure will be increased up to KZT 14 bln 995 mln and in 2013 - up to KZT 16 bln 043 mln.

According to the Special public allowances budgetary program which covers disabled persons and children, mothers with many children, awarded with Altyn alka (gold pendant) and Kumis alka (silver pendant), the average annual number of the payees makes 1 256 248 people in 2011. In 2013 it will approach 1 210 901 people. The budget funds required to have this program implemented make KZT 67 bln 30 mln 771 thousand in 2011, KZT 68 bln 397 mln 304 thousand in 2012, KZT 73 bln 147 mln 650 thousand in 2013.

The strategic plan foresees pay hikes through the budget project of "Nonrecurrent public reimbursement for certain categories of citizens". Among the recipients are citizens suffered as a result of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear range. Their number is 9 617 people in 2011.

In compensatory damages for physical and moral harm to the people suffered as a result of massive political repressions the budget spending stipulates KZT 232 mln 727 thousand in 2011, KZT 86 mln 305 thousand in 2012.