In Uzbekistan, the State Social Insurance Fund has allocated a total of 62.5 billion soums in benefits based on 5,400 cases of incapacity for work. This was reported by uzdaily.uznewsreports.
This figure is considered one of the initial practical results of the state social insurance system, which has been gradually introduced since 2026. The system is being implemented based on the law 'On State Social Insurance' and presidential documents, with the Cabinet of Ministers approving additional measures to improve the payment procedures for the population.
According to the new procedure, from January 1, 2026, maternity and childbirth benefits began to be paid through state social insurance. From July of the current year, temporary incapacity for work benefits are also planned to be provided through this system.
The reforms aim to expand social protection opportunities for a wide range of the population. Previously, the main responsibility for benefits was on employers, which led to situations where guarantees could not be fully utilized, especially in the private sector and among women. The new system aims to reduce this disparity by ensuring stable income for officially working citizens during illness or pregnancy.
Transferring the financial burden from employers to the state allows entrepreneurs to direct resources towards business development, job creation, and production expansion. It is also noted that this reduces risks such as not hiring or dismissing pregnant women.
The system also encourages official employment: the amount of benefits will depend on the insurance period. Plans for 2026 include covering nearly 2.2 million budget organization employees, over 3.6 million private sector workers, and more than 7 million individual entrepreneurs, self-employed, and informal sector workers.
It is planned to pay maternity and childbirth benefits to 165,000 insured individuals through the fund. From July 1, temporary incapacity for work benefits will be processed proactively for about 500,000 citizens without requiring an application.
A key feature of the new system is full digitalization: benefits are assigned automatically without requiring additional documents from citizens. This is expected to increase transparency, reduce bureaucracy, and minimize the impact of human factors.
According to practical data, from January 1-15, 2026, the fund received 8,900 incapacity for work certificates related to maternity and childbirth. Of these, 5,400 (60%) were reviewed, and benefits totaling 62.5 billion soums were assigned.
For the remaining 3,500 certificates, payments were not assigned in 1,300 cases (15%) due to lack of official employment or insufficient insurance period. The issue of assigning payments for another 2,200 (25%) applications is under consideration.
Citizens will be informed about the status of their benefits via SMS notifications sent to the mobile numbers indicated on the incapacity for work certificates.
Officials evaluate the new state social insurance system not just as a payment mechanism but as a comprehensive reform based on the principles of human interests and social justice. The adopted law is expected to serve as a foundation for creating a financially stable and transparent system, ensuring reliable protection for the population in a modern economic environment.
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