Kazakhstan suspends disability payments after fraud probe
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Kazakhstan's labor ministry, in coordination with the health ministry, suspended social payments in 124 cases after a probe found evidence of fake disability registrations. The review identified 1,300 suspicious medical files, with confirmed fraud in 167 cases and estimated state damage exceeding 260.5 million tenge.
Fraud Detection
The labor ministry's social protection committee analyzed medical documents across all disability categories, flagging 1,300 cases for review. Of these, 167 showed clear signs of forgery, with patients lacking actual life activity limitations. Another 232 cases are under additional investigation for possible unjustified upgrading of disability groups to secure higher payments.
Regional Breakdown
Shymkent accounted for 55.7% of confirmed violations (93 cases). Other regions included Atyrau (26 cases, 15.6%), Turkistan (19 cases, 11.4%), Almaty region (19 cases, 11.4%), Zhetysu (5 cases), Mangystau (2 cases), Kyzylorda (2 cases), and Almaty city (1 case). Payments were suspended in 124 cases, with recipients ordered to undergo re-examination; 43 disability statuses were automatically revoked due to no-shows.
Recovery Efforts
Estimated state damage stands at 260.5 million tenge. As of July 10, 2026, 12.8 million tenge has been recovered, with 24 individuals fully reimbursing damages and 43 paying in installments. For 57 people, circumstances are still being investigated by prosecutors and the state corporation 'Government for Citizens'. Materials have been forwarded to economic investigation departments and the Prosecutor General's Office.
What's Next
The labor ministry continues to review 232 additional cases for potential disability group inflation. It remains unclear how much of the remaining 247.6 million tenge will be recovered through court proceedings and enforcement actions.
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Kazakhstan suspends disability payments after fraud probe
