Author: Kikki

If you do not have official employment, you can still receive maternity or sickness benefits. To qualify, you must be making regular voluntary social insurance contributions. Additionally, you must meet certain conditions specified by law. You can learn more about these conditions and the payment procedure in this article.

Starting from 2026, a new state social insurance system has been introduced in Uzbekistan. It protects citizens from losing their income during difficult life situations such as illness, pregnancy, and unemployment. Under the new system, benefits are no longer paid at the employer’s expense, but through the State Social Insurance Fund. This ensures equal social guarantees for all citizens working in both the public and private sectors.

You can benefit from 3 types of insurance

In accordance with Decree No. UP-206 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated November 3, 2025, the following benefits are designated to be paid through the State Social Insurance Fund:

• From January 1, 2026: Maternity benefit — paid to women for the prenatal and postnatal periods;
• From July 1, 2026: Temporary disability (sick leave) benefit — paid for the period during which employees are unfit for work due to illness;
• From 2030: Severance pay — paid upon the termination of an employee’s contract.

Who is entitled to receive temporary disability and maternity benefits?

1. All individuals covered by mandatory state social insurance who possess a valid insurance track record (length of service):
   • Those working under an official employment contract with an employer;
   • Individuals providing services (performing work) under a civil law contract;
   • Those engaged in other official employment activities in accordance with the procedure established by law.

2. Individuals covered by state social insurance on a voluntary basis:

• Self-employed individuals;
• Individuals employed in Dehkan (small-scale personal) farms;
• Owners of private plots of land or their family members engaged in work on these plots;
• Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan working in organizations established abroad by state bodies and other organizations;
• Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan employed abroad under hire;
• Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan and carrying out income-generating activities within the country;
• Non-working citizens, provided that their insurance contributions are paid by their spouse;
• Citizens receiving income as founders (participants) of legal entities;
• Individual entrepreneurs, including artisans who are members of the “Hunarmand” Association;
• Family members conducting business in the form of a family enterprise without establishing a legal entity;
• The head of a Dehkan farm.

What are the minimum track record (length of service) requirements to receive insurance benefits?

• For maternity benefit: At least 10 months of insurance track record is required (with the last 6 months being continuous);
• For temporary disability benefit: At least 6 months of insurance track record is required.

Are separate contributions paid for maternity benefit and temporary disability benefit? No, the paid insurance contribution covers both. In other words, you make a single payment, and that contribution entitles you to receive both the maternity benefit and the temporary disability benefit.

For voluntary insurance, the minimum monthly contribution starts from 63,550 UZS (5% of the Minimum Wage), and you can pay as much more as you wish, as no upper limit has been set.

Starting June 1, you can pay your voluntary social insurance contributions via the Baraka app. The money will be credited directly to your Baraka social card or bank card.

For how long should the voluntary contributions for maternity and temporary disability benefits be paid? Insurance benefits are allocated based on the citizens’ insurance track record. A citizen who has paid voluntary insurance contributions in higher amounts, regularly, and over a long period will be granted a higher benefit amount in proportion to their insurance track record. At the same time, for individuals insured on a voluntary basis, the maternity benefit is capped at an amount not exceeding five times the minimum wage.

If a citizen has paid insurance on a voluntary basis, how does the benefit amount calculated for maternity leave differ from the benefit paid for temporary disability?

For individuals insured on a voluntary basis, the calculation methodology for both benefits is identical, being based on the days of leave and the average monthly wage:

• Maternity benefit is capped at a maximum of 5 times the minimum wage.
• Temporary disability benefit is calculated based on the days of release from work (leave days) specified in the temporary disability certificate, but it cannot exceed a total of 182 days within a single calendar year.

Which categories of individuals without official employment are eligible to receive sickness benefits?

Starting July 1, 2026, if voluntary insurance contributions are paid for non-working spouses (husband/wife) and citizens who receive income as founders (participants) of legal entities, they may also be granted benefits when admitted to sanatoriums and wellness resorts, or to rehabilitation centers for prosthetics (fitting artificial limbs/organs).

However, benefits are not paid for just any type of illness. They can only receive benefits in the following two situations:

• When undergoing treatment at sanatoriums and wellness resorts upon a doctor’s recommendation;
• When admitted to specialized rehabilitation centers for prosthetics (fitting artificial limbs/organs).

If a citizen who has paid voluntary insurance contributions falls ill, for how long can they receive money from the fund?

For individuals insured on a voluntary basis (who do not have an employer), the first 5 days of illness are unpaid — the benefit is granted starting from the 6th day.

The benefit is paid for the duration of the illness — meaning for as many days as the sick leave certificate is issued (excluding the first 5 days), based on the individual’s insurance track record:

• If the insurance track record is from 6 months to 8 years → 60% of the average wage;
• If the insurance track record is over 8 years → 80% of the average wage.

How much benefit is paid to a citizen who has made voluntary insurance contributions?

For individuals covered by state social insurance on a voluntary basis, the calculation is made by converting the voluntarily paid monthly insurance contributions into a monthly wage. In accordance with this sub-clause, the monthly wage amount starting from January 1, 2026, is determined by dividing the monthly paid insurance contribution amount by the insurance contribution rate applicable at the time of payment, and multiplying the result by 100%.

Example: An insured individual, as a self-employed person, voluntarily paid an insurance contribution of 150,000 UZS to the Fund for January 2026. When calculating the benefit for this citizen, their wage for January 2026 is determined to be 3,000,000 UZS.

The monthly wage amount is calculated as follows: Paid insurance contribution (one hundred and fifty thousand) ÷ Insurance contribution rate (the insurance contribution rate for 2026 is 5%) × 100% = 3,000,000 UZS.

The monthly wage amount determined through this formula is taken into account as the average monthly wage of the insured person for whom the benefit is being calculated.

Download the Baraka app and pay your voluntary social insurance contributions. Protect yourself socially.

Download the app.

You can learn more details about the procedure and payment for maternity benefits here.

 

We have introduced updates to the Baraka mobile app. We added a number of new features aimed at simplifying the process of using social services and making financial transactions more convenient.

Below you can find detailed information about the main changes and new opportunities introduced to the app:

Innovations in Social Services and the Insurance System

Voluntary Social Insurance Contributions. From now on, users can remotely pay voluntary social insurance contributions through the app not only for themselves, but also for other individuals (family members and loved ones).

Expansion of the Benefits Section. Accessing state social services through the app’s benefits section has become even easier. Now, users can apply directly for the following services:

Inclusion in and removal from the social registry;

Allocation of child allowances.

AI-Powered Assistant. An artificial intelligence (AI) assistant system has been integrated into the app to help users identify and search for social services tailored to their specific needs.

Conveniences in the Bank Card and Money Transfer System

Issuing Baraka Cards. A new feature has been introduced allowing users to pay for the issuance (opening) or re-issuance (reissue) of a Baraka card not only using existing Baraka cards, but also through Uzcard and Humo bank cards of the national payment systems.

Card Management and P2P Transfers. Users can link multiple bank cards belonging to them to the app, perform peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers between them, and quickly top up their Baraka card balance.

Transparency and Security. In order to ensure the security of card-to-card money transfers and prevent errors, electronic receipts now fully display the full name and relevant details of both the sender and the recipient.

The Baraka team continues to constantly improve the app’s functionality and work on providing users with secure and modern digital services.

To take advantage of all the new features and conveniences mentioned above, please update the mobile app via Google Play or the App Store.

 

“Baraka” Project Presented at the “Inson Uchun – 2026” Festival

One of the year’s most significant events in the social sphere, the “Inson Uchun – 2026” (For the Human – 2026) festival, took place at the “Uzexpocentre” National Exhibition Complex in Tashkent. Held on May 12-13, this prestigious event brought together the most advanced solutions for building an inclusive society, modern education, and ensuring public employment.

One of the projects at the center of attention during the festival was the “Baraka” social card project under the National Agency for Social Protection. The project office team participated with their own stand, showcasing the digital transformation of the fundamental reforms in the country’s social system.

Project Manager Avaz Yusupov highlighted the essence and strategic importance of the “Baraka” project in his speech: “Our main goal is to create a transparent and convenient service system for citizens by fully digitizing social services provided by the state to reduce bureaucracy. ‘Baraka’ will become a holistic ecosystem serving human dignity, not just a means of payment.”

The practical presentation by Asad Panjiyev, Head of Training and Operations, garnered significant interest among participants. The specialist detailed the technical capabilities of the “Baraka” mobile app.

During the “Q&A” session organized at the conclusion of the festival, experts provided detailed answers to questions from citizens. Discussions emphasized the full implementation of the “Baraka” project across regions and its future enrichment with new functional capabilities.

The festival served as an important foundation for bringing the “Baraka” project closer to the people and shaping a modern, humanitarian image of the social protection system.

Modern life is inseparable from money transfers. Whether you are sending tuition to your child, providing financial support to loved ones, or simply moving funds between cards—the Baraka app makes it happen in seconds.

But did you know you can save significant money by choosing the right transfer tariffs? Let’s explore the most cost-effective options available in the Baraka app.

0% Commission Between Baraka Cards

The Baraka social card is designed not just for receiving benefits, but also for making the most affordable—and even free—money transfers. Check out our commission rates below:

• 0% — Absolutely Free If you transfer money between two Baraka cards within the same bank, there is no service fee:
  • Aloqabank Baraka → Aloqabank Baraka = 0%
  • Xalq Banki Baraka → Xalq Banki Baraka = 0%
• 0.5% — Preferential Tariff When you send money from your Baraka card to any other bank card, the commission is nearly twice as low as the market average:
  • Baraka Card → Humo or Uzcard = 0.5%
  • Baraka (Aloqabank) → Baraka (Xalq Banki) = 0.5%

The Baraka Advantage

Typically, card-to-card transfer fees in other apps reach up to 1%. With the Baraka card:

1. You eliminate fees entirely by transferring within the same bank.
2. You save at least 0.5% on every transfer to other cards.

For example: If you transfer 1,000,000 UZS, a standard card might charge you 10,000 UZS in fees. With Baraka, that cost drops to just 5,000 UZS or is completely free.

Withdrawing Cash from ATMs

Please keep in mind that cash withdrawal commissions are set independently by the bank that owns the ATM, not by Baraka.

To save on fees, try to use ATMs belonging to the same bank that issued your Baraka card (e.g., Aloqabank, Xalqbanki). ATMs always display the commission amount on the screen before dispensing cash—be sure to check the screen before confirming your transaction.

Announcement

Dear users, the temporary technical issue affecting the balance display in the Baraka mobile app has been fully resolved.

The app is now functioning normally, and your balances are displayed correctly. If your balance has not yet updated, we recommend reopening or refreshing the app.

All your funds remain completely safe at all times

Dear users, we would like to inform you that at the moment, some users of the Baraka mobile app may notice an incorrect balance or a zero balance displayed in their account. Please do not worry—this does not mean that your card has no funds. All funds in your account remain safe, and your card is fully functional. You can continue to use it at ATMs and retail outlets without any issues.

 The issue is caused by a temporary technical malfunction within the system. Our technical team is actively working to resolve it as quickly as possible. All your funds are securely protected during this process.

We expect the problem to be fully resolved within 1–2 days. Once the process is complete, your correct balance will automatically appear in the app.