302.8 billion KZT is provided for social security and assistance to people with special needs in 2018

This was reported by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Madina Abylkasymova, speaking at a meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the issue of social protection for people with special needs.

According to her, about 674.2 thousand people with special needs live in Kazakhstan. The social security system for this category of the population includes basic social benefits, the provision of special social services and the provision of technical means of rehabilitation.

“In 2018, 302.8 billion KZT was provided for social security and assistance to people with disabilities (an increase of 121% by 2017). As of October 1 of this year, about 508,7 thousand people with disabilities are recipients of social assistance. Since January 1, 2018, the amount of disability benefits has been increased to 16% due to a change in the structure of the subsistence minimum. Now the average amount of benefits is 40,769 KZT, ”Madina Abylkasymova noted.

As the head of the department noted, on behalf of the Head of State, from July 1, 2018, a new manual was introduced for persons caring for adult disabled people of the first group since childhood. Today, an allowance in the amount of 29,699 KZT is assigned to 10 thousand families.

At the same time, about 100 thousand people with special needs received a guaranteed amount of special social services, and 8.8 thousand - through non-governmental organizations.

To provide comprehensive support for people with special needs, an Action Plan has been implemented since 2012 to ensure the rights and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. The amount of funding for its implementation in 2018 amounted to 6 billion KZT.

As part of the allocated funds, 15 Invataxi services were created, the standards for providing persons with disabilities with obligatory hygienic means were increased more than 2 times, the List of technical means of rehabilitation was expanded, taking into account modern gadgets; signs and signs, sound devices are equipped with pedestrian crossings in the locations of organizations focused on serving persons with disabilities new and others

To further improve the social security system for persons with special needs, the Ministry plans to develop a National Plan to ensure the rights and improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities for 2019–2023, which proposes 7 priority areas.

The first priority is the further improvement of measures to prevent disability;

The second priority is the development of inclusive education. In accordance with the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program for the Development of Education and Science for 2016-2019, by 2019, it is planned to create conditions for inclusive education: 30% of pre-school, 70% of secondary and 40% of technical and professional educational organizations.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education in order to develop inclusive education needs to address issues of shortage and competence of personnel, methodological support of the system of inclusive education, strengthening the material and technical base of educational organizations in the framework of creating a barrier-free environment.

The third priority is the formation of a barrier-free environment by 2030.

“To date, 32.6 thousand social infrastructure facilities are subject to certification, of which 32 thousand objects (98.0%) are planned to be certified for compliance with the accessible environment for persons with disabilities, 21.1 thousand are adapted (64.7% ) facilities ”- said Madina Abylkasymova.

The fourth priority is to improve measures to ensure quality employment and increase the level of economic independence of persons with disabilities.

This category of citizens has the right, as a matter of priority, to take part in active measures to promote employment in the framework of the Program for the Development of Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship.

As of October 1, 6.4 thousand people were employed in permanent jobs, 1.3 thousand people were covered by short-term courses, 39 people received microcredits to start their own business.

In addition, thanks to the preferences introduced to public associations of persons with disabilities when participating in public procurement, 2.2 thousand people work in 194 organizations.

Also, from 2018, subsidies have been introduced for employers to equip a special workplace for the disabled. This year, 105.6 million KZT was allocated for these purposes to create 770 special jobs.

The minister called the increase in the effectiveness of social rehabilitation and habilitation as the fifth priority.

The sixth priority is the modernization of the social service system.

To improve it, work has begun on the implementation of the Social Services Portal. This will provide an opportunity for self-selection of service providers and rehabilitation tools based on individual needs.

The seventh priority is to conduct a broad outreach work to create a tolerant attitude in society towards disability issues.