Who Can Receive Housing Repair Aid After Disasters in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has outlined the eligibility criteria and procedures for receiving financial assistance to repair homes damaged by fires or natural disasters.
Uzbekistan offers housing repair aid to citizens whose homes have been damaged by disasters such as fires, floods, or earthquakes, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria, as announced by the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan.
To qualify for assistance following a fire, applicants must present a certificate from a Public Services Centre. For damage caused by floods, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, a damage assessment report, prepared by a working group in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 747 of November 25, 2020, is required.
This social assistance is available to families listed in the Social Register whose average monthly income per family member does not exceed twice the minimum consumer expenditure. Currently, with the minimum consumer expenditure set at 715,000 soums per person per month, the income threshold for eligibility is 1.43 million soums per family member.
The maximum payment can reach up to 150 basic calculation units. Given that the basic calculation unit is presently 412,000 soums, the highest possible assistance amount is 61.8 million soums. This aid can be provided multiple times, depending on the circumstances, and is disbursed through three distinct methods.
Under the first method, repair funds are transferred to the Infrastructure and Social Stability Fund, based on lists compiled by district or city khokimiyats. The second method involves repair work being carried out by district or city improvement departments or Mahalla Servis Kompaniyasi. The third option allows beneficiaries to undertake the repairs themselves, receiving a voucher for construction materials worth up to 85% of the approved social assistance amount. These materials are purchased via the Uzum Market electronic trading platform.
The agency provided an illustrative example: a family whose home sustained partial fire damage. If this family is not in the Social Register but their per capita income is below the minimum consumer expenditure, they can apply for assistance after securing the necessary documents and completing a damage assessment. After obtaining a fire certificate from a Public Services Centre, the family must apply through "Mahalla Seven" representatives. An inspection of the property will then lead to a damage assessment report detailing the extent of the damage.
If the damage is assessed at 100 basic calculation units, the family could receive 41.2 million soums in aid. Should they opt for independent repairs, they could receive a voucher for construction materials, covering up to 85% of that amount, or up to 35.02 million soums. This voucher can be used exclusively on the electronic trading platform to purchase materials such as roofing slate, doors, window frames, and other essential items.