Belarus increased its subsistence minimum budget (BPM), which determines the amount of several social benefits, from November 1. The new rates will remain in effect until January 31, 2027.
The average BPM per capita has been set at 535.70 Belarusian rubles. It will amount to 574.47 rubles for working-age citizens and 381.27 rubles for pensioners. The BPM for children under three has been set at 332.62 rubles, for children aged three to six at 444.34 rubles, and for those aged six to 18 at 525.44 rubles.
The revision of the BPM has resulted in increases in state benefits for families with children, pension supplements, payments for caring for elderly people and people with disabilities, as well as social pensions.
The one-off benefit for the birth of a first child will now amount to 5,357 rubles, while the benefit for a second and subsequent child will be 7,499.80 rubles. Women who register with a healthcare institution before the 12th week of pregnancy will receive 535.70 rubles.
The monthly benefit for families with children aged three to 18 while raising a child under three will amount to 267.85 rubles. The same amount is provided for a child over the age of three, except for a child with a disability. The payment for a child with a disability over the age of three will amount to 374.99 rubles.
The benefit for caring for a child with a disability under the age of 18 will range from 535.70 to 642.84 rubles, depending on the degree of health impairment and the child’s age. The payment for children under 18 living with HIV will amount to 374.99 rubles.
Pension supplements for non-working pensioners aged 75 and older have also changed. For people aged 75 to 79, they will amount to 100.45 rubles, rising to 234.38 rubles for those with a Group I disability. Pensioners aged over 80 will be entitled to 200.90 rubles, including a care allowance, or 267.86 rubles if they have a Group I disability.
The Ministry of Labour stressed that these are the final amounts of the supplements after recalculation, rather than the amount by which payments increased from November 1. Such payments are automatically granted to non-working pensioners who have reached the age of 75 and receive their pensions through labour, employment and social protection authorities. Their amount is revised quarterly in line with changes to the BPM. About 576,000 people receive the supplements.
The amount of state targeted social assistance also increased from November 1. Monthly social assistance for families is granted if average per capita income, for objective reasons, is below 535.70 rubles. For large families, the threshold is 616.06 rubles. A one-off benefit in the event of difficult life circumstances is available to people with an average per capita income of no more than 803.55 rubles.
The benefit for caring for a person over the age of 80 or a person with a Group I disability has also increased. It will amount to 535.70 rubles for caring for one person unable to work and 642.84 rubles for caring for two or more people.
State subsidies for unemployed people to start their own businesses have also increased. The subsidy will amount to 5,892.70 rubles in cities and 8,035.50 rubles in small towns and rural areas. A subsidy of 10,714 rubles is available for business projects involving the implementation of research and development results.
This is the fourth recalculation in 2026 of benefits linked to the BPM. Over the year, their amounts have increased by 9.1%.