President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that working mothers included in the Social Register of Uzbekistan will receive allowances for childcare from the Social Insurance Fund until the child reaches one year of age. This was stated during a state meeting on reducing poverty levels and increasing income on September 3, 2026.
Social Support
As part of this initiative, the president instructed the National Agency for Social Protection to revise the criteria for inclusion in the Social Register by the end of the current year. The existing system, which assessed vulnerability solely based on income level, will be replaced by a multidimensional assessment model.
The updated registration criteria will take into account factors such as chronic illnesses, disability status, family size, and the presence of household members working abroad. The goal of this adjustment is to increase the accuracy of targeted assistance and expand social support coverage.
According to data presented by the president, the overall national poverty rate in Uzbekistan has decreased to 3.9 percent. Nevertheless, the average poverty rate among households raising children under three years old is 6.5 percent. Mirziyoyev emphasized that the government will create mechanisms enabling parents caring for children to find work and earn money either at home or in local mahallas.
Support for Low-Income Families
Programs to support low-income families without able-bodied members were also discussed at the meeting. This year, a social protection package of 300 billion soms was allocated for generating passive income for vulnerable households. To date, 11,000 families have received assistance under this scheme, with approximately half reporting a significant increase in income.
The president instructed officials to prepare an official decree increasing the duration of this initiative within a week. Furthermore, starting in 2027, Uzbekistan plans to introduce a voucher system for children from families registered in the Social Register. These 12-month vouchers will cover expenses related to preschool and private educational centers, transportation, and accommodation in university dormitories. The right to receive a voucher remains valid throughout the entire 12-month period, even if the family is subsequently excluded from the Social Register.
Register Oversight
Operational control over the Social Register is being implemented following criticism voiced at the July meeting. At that time, officials noted that all 2,000 applications submitted by low-income families in 184 mahallas were rejected within one month. These unjustified rejections hindered vulnerable families from receiving state aid and enrolling children in educational institutions, prompting the instruction to the Prosecutor General's Office to strengthen supervision over register administration.