After deductions, a pensioner in Uzbekistan should be left with at least 715 thousand soums.

In Uzbekistan, after all deductions, pensioners will be guaranteed at least 715,000 soums.

On August 7, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan approved amendments to the Law "On State Pension Provision for Citizens." These amendments provide for proactive pension allocation for individuals with Groups I and II disabilities, automatic recalculation of such payments, and a new guarantee for deductions.

Presenting the bill, Odiljon Mamatkarimov, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Budget and Economic Reforms, emphasized that the amendments are aimed at further digitalization of the pension system, reducing bureaucracy and the influence of human error, and strengthening the protection of the rights of people with disabilities.

According to the new amendments, citizens assigned Group I or II disabilities will be assigned a pension proactively, without the need to submit a separate application.

Currently, this mechanism is used for the assignment of old-age pensions. To apply for a disability pension, citizens must contact the Pension Fund or the Public Services Center, or complete an application through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services.

Once the changes come into force, there will be no need to submit an application or visit these institutions in person.

"Citizens will no longer need to come to the Pension Fund or the Public Services Center, submit an application, and wait in line," noted Odiljon Mamatkarimov.

The necessary information—on work experience, wages, periods of study, and family members—will be received electronically from the information systems of government agencies and organizations.

According to the senator, reducing the direct involvement of employees in the process should also reduce the risk of corruption.

It is estimated that the new procedure will allow approximately 52,000 people annually to avoid wasting time and money on contacting the Pension Fund, Public Services Centers, or submitting an online application.

The report also specifies the operational timeframe for the proactive system.

The issue of assigning a pension without an application must be reviewed on the same business day when the information system receives electronic information about the citizen reaching retirement age or being declared disabled.

If the information is received after the end of working hours, the issue must be reviewed on the next business day.

Another change concerns recipients of disability pensions who continue to work.

If, after being assigned a pension, a citizen gains at least one year of additional work experience, the payment will be automatically recalculated every two years based on the pensioner's work experience and salary information from state information systems. No application is required.

Currently, recalculation is performed upon the pensioner's application. According to the Pension Fund, approximately 8,000 people have their disability pensions recalculated annually.

At the meeting, Senator Makhmudjon Toirov inquired about why the recalculation is proposed to be carried out only every two years.

"If a citizen has at least one year of service after being assigned a disability pension, why is the pension recalculated every two years? Can't the system automatically recalculate it after a year of service?" he asked.

Deputy Director of the Pension Fund, Nuriddin Shadikhodzhaev, responded by citing the specifics of accounting for a full year of work experience and international experience. According to him, in Russia, recalculation occurs upon termination of employment, regardless of its duration, while in Tajikistan, it occurs after two years of service. The meeting also cited the experience of Azerbaijan, where recalculation occurs after six years of service.

A separate amendment introduces a minimum amount that a pensioner must retain after deductions.

According to the current procedure, the amount of monthly deductions (fines, alimony, utility bills, and other debts) can reach 50% of the pension.

Mamatkarimov gave an example: the minimum old-age pension is 918,000 soums. If the maximum permissible 50% is withheld, the pensioner will be left with 459,000 soums.

After the amendments come into force, the amount paid after deductions will not be lower than the officially established minimum consumer expenditure (poverty line) of 715,000 soums.

This provision is estimated to affect approximately 45,000 pensioners annually.

The inclusion of this provision in the law is envisaged by the presidential decree of February 16, 2026 (UP-22).

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan expects the average pension in 2027 to be 1.8 million soums, compared to 1.7 million soums in 2026. Based on rounded figures, the increase will be approximately 5.9%, but the exact growth rate is not specified in the fiscal strategy.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance previously presented proposals for pension reform: self-employed individuals could be gradually transitioned to paying social tax, the earnings period for pension calculation could be extended from 5 to 20 years, and the minimum work experience could be increased. The state could also co-finance the savings of low-income citizens.