Proactive pension assignment has increased to 85%, but senators have pointed to problems with digitalization of work experience

The share of proactively assigned pensions in Uzbekistan has reached 85%, but senators have identified problems with the digitization of work experience records.

By July 2026, 85% of old-age pensions in Uzbekistan will be assigned proactively, meaning without the need for a citizen to submit an application. In the first month after the system's launch in 2025, this figure was only 42%. Nuriddin Shadikhodjaev, Deputy Director of the Pension Fund, announced this at a Senate meeting on August 7.

Senator Malika Kadirkhanova raised the issue of the system's functioning. According to her, approximately 8,000 requests were received over six months, some of which concerned incomplete recording of work experience due to deficiencies in the data digitization process. Applicants noted that this resulted in underestimated pension amounts. The senator inquired about the number of such cases since the launch of the new system and expressed concern that extending the proactive procedure to disability pensions would lead to similar difficulties.

Nuriddin Shadikhodzhaev, Deputy Director of the Pension Fund, reported that the fund has established electronic information exchange with 18 ministries and agencies to proactively assign old-age pensions. He noted, "When we first introduced the proactive pension assignment system in 2025, 42% of citizens were assigned pensions this way in the first month." He noted that one of the key reasons for this low initial figure was the incomplete digitalization of citizens' work history records. "First and foremost, problems arose related to the extent to which citizens' data for their entire working life had been digitized in the relevant ministries and agencies. Today, these issues are being gradually addressed," the fund representative explained.

By July 2026, the share of proactively assigned pensions increased to 85%. The Pension Fund also announced plans to fully transition relevant government services to a proactive and electronic format by the end of 2027.

During the discussion, it was proposed to extend the proactive assignment of old-age pensions to citizens with Groups I and II disabilities. According to estimates, this will allow pensions to be assigned annually without an application to approximately 52,000 people. It was also noted at the meeting that since the launch of the system, 154,205 citizens have been assigned old-age pensions without an application, without having to contact the Pension Fund or fill out an application.

Summarizing the discussion, Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbaeva emphasized the risks associated with the practical implementation of the new regulations. According to her, proactive pension assignment is intended to relieve citizens, including people with disabilities, from unnecessary requests to government agencies, but technical and organizational problems should not lead to the opposite effect. "The benefits and opportunities being created, the proactive assignment of pensions—all of this should not, on the contrary, become a complex process due to various organizational, technical factors, or inconsistencies in law enforcement," she stated.

Narbaeva emphasized the need to address any problems and shortcomings arising during the law's implementation at the local level, as well as to promptly inform people with disabilities about new opportunities through responsible government and non-governmental organizations. Among these organizations, she named the Pension Fund, the Ministry of Justice, disability societies, and specialized NGOs.

As a reminder, the senators approved amendments according to which pensions will be assigned proactively to citizens with Groups I and II disabilities, without a separate application. The new procedure is expected to affect approximately 52,000 people per year. Automatic recalculations and protection against excessive deductions are also being introduced.