Belarus to raise benefits for families with children on 1 August

On 1 August, Belarus will raise benefits for families with children by 4.1%, as these benefits are pegged to the minimum subsistence budget, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Specifically, the one-time payment for the birth of a first child is 10 times the minimum subsistence budget, or Br5,303.70, while for a second or subsequent child it is 14 times that amount, or Br7,425.18.

Women who register with healthcare providers before the 12th week of pregnancy receive a one-time payment of Br530.37, which is 100% of the minimum subsistence budget.

Families raising a child under the age of 3 along with children aged 3 to 18 receive a monthly payment of Br265.19, or 50% of the minimum subsistence budget. Additionally, monthly payments have increased for children over 3 raised by certain types of families: Br265.19 for non-disabled children (50% of the budget) and Br371.26 for disabled children (70% of the budget).

The monthly care allowance for a disabled child under 18 has also been revised. It stands at Br530.37 (100% of the minimum subsistence budget) for children with first- or second-degree impairment up to age 18, as well as for those with third- or fourth-degree impairment up to age 3. For children with third- or fourth-degree impairment after they turn 3, the allowance rises to Br636.44 (120% of the budget).

The monthly allowance for children under 18 years of age infected with the human immunodeficiency virus is 70% of the minimum subsistence budget, or Br371.26.

The new rates will apply from 1 August through 31 October 2026. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security noted that benefits linked to the minimum subsistence budget currently cover over 154,800 children aged between 3 and 18.