In 2021, a staggering 122 billion tenge was allocated to the ASP
Plenty of Kazakhstani families are now eligible for assistance. By May 1st, 749,800 individuals from 152,300 families had acquired targeted social assistance. This fiscal year, 122.8 billion tenge has been set aside in the budget for these programs, according to Total.kz.
The selected recipients' average per capita income falls below 70% of the regional living wage. To fortify this support system, efforts are underway nationwide to ensure children from low-income families, specifically those under pre-school age, receive a guaranteed social package. As of May 1, 2021, 181,800 children aged one to six from TSA recipients have been assigned this package in the form of food and household chemical sets.
In an automated process, 570,500 Kazakhstani citizens from 112,400 families have prolonged their targeted social assistance until May 1st without needing visits to government institutions.
This extension comes after TSA recipients had their assistance extended during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020 due to the state of emergency and stringent quarantine measures.
Interestingly, Kazakhstan's social assistance mechanisms for low-income families and children involve a mix of traditional support programs and new digital innovations. For displaced populations, known as "Kandas," there are resettlement initiatives with various financial aid, employment assistance, digital transition initiatives, and housing support. Labor-deficient regions are prioritized for resettlement quotas and funding.
While the specifics of low-income family programs beyond the Kandas initiative are not extensively detailed in official documents, these programs likely operate through similar cash-transfer frameworks. Additionally, international assistance such as USAID energy and trade programs have been curtailed, leaving domestic mechanisms as the primary safety net. However, there are some limited tuberculosis-related grants that target healthcare rather than direct financial aid.
In August 2020, the "Kazakhstan Government Scholarships 2025" program was introduced, providing full tuition, housing, and stipends for international students. Domestic programs likely adhere to similar models, though their specifics are not laid out in the available records.
The average income of selected households receiving targeted social assistance (TSA) falls below 70% of the regional living wage.
The finance industry, in collaboration with the business sector, is implementing new digital innovations to fortify the TSA system, ensuring children from low-income families receive a guaranteed social package.
Domestic mechanisms, such as cash-transfer frameworks, have been prioritized as the primary safety net, with international assistance like USAID energy and trade programs being curtailed.
By May 1, 2021, 570,500 Kazakhstani citizens from 112,400 families had their TSA extended automatically, eliminating the need for visits to government institutions.
