State Support for Families Raising Children with Disabilities

Key Provisions of the Regulatory Legal Act

Regulatory Legal Act

State Allowances for Families Raising Children

Allowance for childcare up to 3 years of age:

– in the amount of 45 percent of the average monthly wage of employees in the republic for the quarter;

for other children under 3 years of age raised in the family: for the first child – 35 percent of the average monthly wage of employees in the republic for the quarter, for the second and subsequent children – 40 percent.

Appointed at the place of work, service, study, or in the bodies for labor, employment, and social protection.

For persons permanently (primarily) residing in territories affected by radioactive contamination in the zone of subsequent resettlement or in the zone with the right to resettlement, the childcare allowance for children under 3 years of age is appointed and paid in the amount of 150 percent of this allowance.

Law of the Republic of Belarus dated 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On State Allowances for Families Raising Children" (Articles 12–13).

Allowance for children over 3 years of age from certain categories of families.

Appointed regardless of family income for each child over 3 years of age:

– in the amount of 70 percent of the subsistence minimum budget per capita (hereinafter – SMB);

for other children over 3 years of age raised in the family – in the amount of 50 percent of the SMB.

Appointed annually (no later than December 31 of each year) at the place of work, service, study, or in the bodies for labor, employment, and social protection.

If a family is simultaneously eligible for child benefits for children over 3 years old from specific family categories and for family benefits for children aged 3 to 18 during the period of raising a child under 3 years old (which is granted once per family at a rate of 50 percent of the living wage), one type of benefit shall be paid at the family's choice.

! From January 1, 2025, the right is granted to:

granting benefits for other children over 3 years old to families in which a child with a disability has reached the age of 18 and has been assigned Group I disability, and one of the parents is caring for them while receiving care benefits;

receipt by a family raising a child with a disability of state benefits during the child with a disability's short-term stay in a children's home in connection with the provision of medical and social services to them;

payment of benefits for caring for a child with a disability under 18 years old to parents or other persons during their training or retraining directed by the employment service.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On State Benefits for Families Raising Children" (Articles 15-16).

Benefit for caring for a child with a disability under 18 years old:

with I and II degrees of health impairment until the child reaches 18 years of age, and with III and IV degrees of health impairment until the child reaches 3 years of age – at a rate of 100 percent of the living wage;

with III and IV degrees of health impairment after the child reaches 3 years of age – at a rate of 120 percent of the living wage.

It is granted by the labor, employment, and social protection authorities regardless of the granting of other benefits.

The right to this benefit is granted to parents, other relatives of a child with a disability, or other persons actually caring for a child with a disability, provided that they are not employed (i.e., they are not working under employment contracts, are not serving in the military or other uniformed services, are not studying full-time, are not performing work under civil law contracts for the provision of services, performance of work, and creation of intellectual property, are not individual entrepreneurs, notaries, lawyers, artisans, persons engaged in agro-ecotourism activities, are not registered as unemployed, are not undergoing full-time clinical residency training, and are not receiving a pension, insurance payment, or monetary maintenance in accordance with the legislation on public service).

At the same time, the right to a childcare allowance for a child with a disability under the age of 18 is granted to the mother (stepmother) or father (stepfather) in a full family, a parent in a single-parent family, an adoptive parent, a guardian (custodian) of a child with a disability, if they:

are employed under an employment contract for no more than half of the monthly working time norm (i.e., no more than 0.5 full-time equivalent) with one or more employers, or perform work under an employment contract at home with one employer;

are individual entrepreneurs, notaries, lawyers, artisans, persons engaged in agro-ecotourism activities, and their respective activities have been suspended in the manner prescribed by law, or they, being individual entrepreneurs, are in the process of terminating their activities;

are on childcare leave until the child reaches the age of 3 (childcare leave granted at the place of service) or are on academic leave;

regardless of receiving a pension and insurance payment.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On State Benefits for Families Raising Children" (Art. 18).

Benefit for temporary incapacity for work due to caring for a sick child with a disability under the age of 18. It is granted:

in case of outpatient treatment of a child with a disability under 18 years of age – for the period during which the child requires care according to a doctor's conclusion, but not more than 14 calendar days;

in case of inpatient treatment – for the entire period of stay with a child under 5 years of age; if the child is over 5 years of age – for the period during which the child requires care.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On state benefits for families raising children" (Art. 19-20).

Temporary disability benefit for caring for a child with a disability under 18 years of age in case of illness of the mother or another person actually caring for him. It is granted for the entire period during which the aforementioned persons cannot care for the child according to a doctor's conclusion.

The right to the benefit is held by the person directly caring for the child with a disability, who is covered by state social insurance and for whom, as well as by themselves in cases provided for by law, mandatory social insurance contributions are paid.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On state benefits for families raising children" (Art. 19-20).

Temporary disability benefit for caring for a child with a disability under 18 years of age in case of his sanatorium-resort treatment, medical rehabilitation.

The right to it is held by the mother (stepmother) or father (stepfather), adoptive parent, guardian (custodian) of a child with a disability under 18 years of age in case the child with a disability requires care during his sanatorium-resort treatment, medical rehabilitation, and provided that the child with a disability is not cared for by another person, including another parent, with the payment of a benefit for caring for a child with a disability under 18 years of age, or if this person (another parent) is unable to care for the child with a disability during his sanatorium-resort treatment, medical rehabilitation due to health reasons or due to caring for a child under 3 years of age, another child with a disability under 18 years of age, or a sick child under 14 years of age.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 29.12.2012
No. 7-Z "On state benefits for families raising children" (Art. 19-20).

Pension provision

Mothers who have raised children with disabilities (disabled since childhood) for at least 8 years before they reach the age of majority are entitled to an old-age pension with a reduction of the generally established retirement age by 5 years and with at least 20 years of service, including at least 5 years of service with payment of mandatory insurance contributions.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 17.04.1992 No. 1596-XII "On pension provision" (Art. 5, 20).

Fathers who have raised children with disabilities (disabled since childhood) for at least 8 years before they reach the age of majority are entitled to an old-age pension with a reduction of the generally established retirement age by 5 years and with a work record of at least 25 years (including at least 5 years of work with mandatory insurance contributions), provided that the mother of the child with a disability (disabled since childhood) has not exercised her acquired right to an old-age pension in accordance with Part One of Article 20 and has waived this right in favor of the father, or has not exercised the right to an old-age pension in accordance with Part One of Article 20 due to her death.

A social pension for mothers and/or fathers of children with disabilities under the age of 18, who had the third and/or fourth degree of health loss, subsequently recognized as Group I disabled since childhood, if the parent (parents) provided care for them for at least 20 years, is calculated at 130 percent of the highest amount of the pensioner's living wage.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Part 2, Article 73).

The period of care for a child with a disability under the age of 18, provided by an able-bodied person who is not working and has no other employment, is included in the work record (total length of service) for the purpose of assigning an employment pension.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Subparagraph "d", Article 51).

Social pensions are assigned to children with disabilities under the age of 18, calculated as a percentage of the living wage, depending on the degree of health loss: first degree – 80 percent, second degree – 85 percent, third degree – 95 percent, fourth degree – 110 percent.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Part 1, Article 73).

Persons with disabilities since childhood are entitled to an old-age pension with a reduction of the generally established retirement age by 5 years, provided they have a work record (including at least 5 years of work with mandatory insurance contributions):

Group I and II disabled persons since childhood – at least 20 years for men and at least 15 years for women;

Group III disabled persons since childhood – at least 25 years for men and at least 20 years for women.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Articles 5, 22).

For persons with disabilities since childhood, whose disability is established for life, the old-age pension is increased by 50 percent of the minimum old-age pension amount.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Part 3, Article 68).

Individuals who were disabled Group I and/or Group II for 10 to 20 years before reaching the general retirement age are granted the right to an old-age labor pension with a work record of at least 20 years for men and at least 15 years for women. For the specified individuals, the required work record with payment of mandatory insurance contributions is reduced by 6 months for each full year of disability of Group I and/or Group II.

For reference.

In 2024, to be eligible for an old-age pension under general terms, a work record of at least 19.5 years with payment of mandatory insurance contributions is required. This period is increased annually by 6 months until it reaches 20 years in 2025.

Individuals who were disabled Group I and/or Group II for at least 21 years before reaching the general retirement age are granted the right to an old-age labor pension with a work record of at least 20 years for men and at least 15 years for women, and with a work record with payment of mandatory insurance contributions of at least 5 years.

Law "On Pension Provision" (Art. 5, 22-1).

People with disabilities are granted the right to a state pension.

The pension may be:

- labor;

- or social.

Disability labor pension is granted to citizens who have periods of work (with payment of mandatory contributions to the social protection fund of the population).

The amount of this pension depends on the disability group:

for Group I disabled persons – 75 percent of the earnings used to calculate the pension. An additional care allowance is paid with this pension;

for Group II disabled persons – 65 percent of the earnings used to calculate the pension;

for Group III disabled persons – 40 percent of the earnings used to calculate the pension.

The pension amount also depends on the past earnings of the disabled person. Salary information is available in the social protection fund of the population.

Social pension is granted to children with disabilities, as well as to adult disabled persons who do not receive a labor pension (do not have work experience). The amount of this pension also depends on the disability group.

To switch to a higher labor pension, a person with a disability needs to acquire a work record with payment of contributions to the social protection fund (even if for a short period).

State Targeted Social Assistance

Provided in the form of:

if the per capita family income for the 12 months preceding the month of application for assistance is objectively below the highest value of the subsistence minimum per capita for the last two quarters (need criterion). Such a benefit is granted for up to 6 months per year. For single-parent families raising a child with a disability, a monthly social benefit may be provided for the maximum possible period – 12 months per year;

if the family finds itself in a difficult life situation due to objective reasons, disrupting normal life activities, provided that its per capita income is no more than 1.5 times the need criterion. Its amount is determined depending on the difficult life situation the family (citizen) is in, in a sum not exceeding 10 times the subsistence minimum per capita, in effect on the date of the decision to grant state targeted social assistance in the form of a one-time social benefit. It is usually granted once within a calendar year;

(regardless of the per capita family income (citizen)). The amount of the benefit is determined based on documented actual expenses for the purchase of diapers, in a sum not exceeding 1.5 times the subsistence minimum. It is provided four times within a calendar year, but no more than once a month.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 41 dated January 19, 2012 "On State Targeted Social Assistance".

Benefits for disabled persons and disabled children in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On State Social Benefits, Rights and Guarantees for Certain Categories of Citizens".

90 percent discount on the cost of medicines dispensed by prescription;

free manufacturing and repair of dentures (excluding dentures made of precious metals and expensive materials) in state healthcare organizations at the place of residence;

in accordance with the State Register of (list) of technical means of social rehabilitation;

Free travel on urban and suburban public passenger transport (excluding taxis), urban electric transport, and the metro, as well as intercity public road transport within the boundaries of the district of residence. IMPORTANT: This right applies to any person accompanying a Group I disabled person.

50 percent discount on maintenance fees and/or use of residential premises within 20 square meters of the total area of the occupied residential premises, and
50 percent discount on elevator maintenance fees and utility services (hot and cold water supply, sewerage, gas, electricity, and heating, solid municipal waste management, liquefied petroleum gas supply from individual cylinder or tank installations) at state-subsidized tariffs (prices) for the population established in accordance with legislation, within approved consumption norms, and for those living in houses without central heating – for fuel purchased within the norms established by legislation for sale to the population.

IMPORTANT: This benefit applies to Group I and Group II disabled persons who do not have able-bodied family members legally obligated to support them and who live alone or only
with Group I or Group II disabled persons and/or unemployed pensioners who have reached the generally established retirement age;

Priority free sanatorium-resort treatment (if medically indicated and no medical contraindications) or health resort treatment (if no medical contraindications) (for unemployed Group I and Group II disabled persons) no more than once every two years

IMPORTANT: Persons accompanying Group I disabled persons to sanatorium-resort or health resort organizations are also provided with vouchers for sanatorium-resort treatment or health resort treatment free of charge (without treatment), provided that the necessity for such accompaniment is confirmed by a conclusion from the medical advisory commission of a state healthcare organization.

50 percent discount on the cost of medicines dispensed by prescription within the list of essential medicines, as determined by the Government of the Republic of Belarus, for the treatment of a disease that led to disability.

free provision of medicines dispensed by prescription;

free manufacturing and repair of dentures (excluding dentures made of precious metals and expensive materials) in state healthcare organizations at the place of residence;

free or subsidized provision of technical means of social rehabilitation, including technical means for mobility, rehabilitation devices, prosthetic and orthopedic products, devices for visual and/or hearing impairments, etc.;

free priority sanatorium-resort treatment (if medically indicated and no medical contraindications) or health improvement (if no medical contraindications).

IMPORTANT: persons accompanying children with disabilities to sanatorium-resort or health improvement organizations are provided with vouchers for sanatorium-resort treatment or health improvement free of charge (without treatment) provided that the necessity for such accompaniment is confirmed by a conclusion from the medical advisory commission of a state healthcare organization;

free travel on public passenger transport of general use, carrying out urban and suburban passenger transportation in regular service, urban electric transport and metro, as well as on public road transport carrying intercity passenger road transportation in regular service, within the boundaries of the district of residence.

IMPORTANT: any person accompanying a child with a disability has this right.

IMPORTANT: the provisions of this Law do not apply to benefits provided for by tax legislation, customs regulation legislation, legislation
in the field of education, housing (with the exception of social benefits for payment for technical maintenance, use of residential premises, elevator technical maintenance and utility services), land, labor, and pension legislation (Article 5 of the Law).

IMPORTANT: the exercise of the right of a person with a disability
to social benefits is carried out upon presentation of a disability certificate issued by a medico-rehabilitation expert commission after undergoing a medico-social examination (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 13.12.2007 No. 1738 "On approval of the Regulations on the procedure for submitting documents on the basis of which the right to state social benefits, rights and guarantees for certain categories of citizens is exercised")

If a citizen is entitled to the same social benefit on several grounds provided for by the Law, the benefit is granted at their choice on one of the grounds.

If the illegality of issuing documents on the basis of which the right to social benefits is exercised is detected, the bodies that issued such documents shall withdraw them. Documents may be withdrawn in other cases and in the manner prescribed by legislation.

Social Services

Hourly childcare services (nanny services) – are provided by territorial centers for social services of the population free of charge to families raising a child with a disability – until the child with a disability reaches the age of 18, not more than 20 hours per week; to families raising two or more children with disabilities – until the children with disabilities reach the age of 18, not more than 40 hours per week.

These services involve providing assistance with care and (or) short-term (during the day) relief for parents from caring for a child, and such services are provided during daytime working hours.

For reference.

Nanny services are not provided if:

the child (child with a disability) receives primary or special education in educational institutions (except for receiving education at home);

a child with a disability receives general or special education in educational institutions, and additional education for children and youth at home;

services are provided in the form of semi-inpatient social services, as well as the social respite service;

care for a child with a disability (children with disabilities) with the receipt of a disability care allowance is carried out by a person other than a parent (mother (stepmother), father (stepfather), legal representative (paragraph 38 of the Instructions on the procedure and conditions for providing social services by state social service institutions, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus of January 26, 2013 No. 11 "On some issues of providing social services by state organizations providing social services").

Social respite services – imply a short-term release of parents from caring for a child with a disability, for a period not exceeding 56 days per calendar year and not more than 28 consecutive days, in order to provide them with an opportunity to restore their strength and resolve family and household issues. The service is provided free of charge, with the continuation of all monetary payments received for the child (including a social pension, a disability care allowance for a child under 18 years of age, and other child benefits). Parents pay only for the child's meals at a rate of 6.74 rubles per day.

Short-term accommodation

Provision of special residential premises in boarding houses for children with disabilities for short-term accommodation (the service is provided for up to one month). The cost of the short-term accommodation service is 16.72 rubles per day.

The state institution "Bugushevsky Children's Social Boarding House "Luchezarny" provides the service in the Vitebsk region.

Rehabilitation at the State Institution "Republican Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities":

Free comprehensive medical, psycho-pedagogical rehabilitation and social adaptation for children with disabilities aged 3-18 years. Rehabilitation periods are set individually and range from 1 to 3 months within a calendar year. The duration of one course (session) is 4-6 weeks depending on the child's age. During the medical rehabilitation of a child with disabilities, the child's mother or another person actually caring for the child with disabilities under 18 years of age is provided with temporary disability benefits for caring for a child with disabilities under 18 years of age at their place of residence, for no more than one medical rehabilitation period per calendar year.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of May 22, 2000 No. 395-Z "On Social Services" (Art. 30),

List of free and publicly available social services of state social service institutions with norms and standards of provision of these services to citizens, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 27, 2012 No. 1218 (Para. 23),

Instructions on the procedure and conditions for providing social services by state social service institutions, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus of January 26, 2013 No. 11 (Para. 17, 29, 33).

Law of the Republic of Belarus of May 22, 2000 No. 395-Z "On Social Services" (Art. 30), List of free and publicly available social services of state social service institutions with norms and standards of provision of these services to citizens, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 27, 2012 No. 1218 (Para. 12),

Instructions on the procedure and conditions for providing social services by state social service institutions, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus of January 26, 2013 No. 11 (Para. 11-1).

Healthcare Support Measures

Free provision of medicines dispensed by prescription within the list of essential medicines, in accordance with the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Belarus.

Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 239-Z dated June 14, 2007 "On State Social Benefits, Rights and Guarantees for Certain Categories of Citizens" (subparagraph 1.13 of paragraph 1 of Article 10).

Free manufacturing and repair of dentures (except for dentures made of precious metals, metal acrylates, (metal composites), metal ceramics and porcelain, as well as the application of a protective and decorative coating made of titanium nitride) for disabled children in state healthcare organizations at their place of residence.

Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 239-Z dated June 14, 2007 "On State Social Benefits, Rights and Guarantees for Certain Categories of Citizens" (subparagraph 10.1 of paragraph 10 of Article 12).

Provision of technical means of social rehabilitation (free of charge or on preferential terms) in accordance with the State Register (List) of Technical Means of Social Rehabilitation in the manner and under the conditions determined by the Government of the Republic of Belarus.

Regulation on the procedure for providing citizens with technical means of social rehabilitation by labor, employment and social protection bodies, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 1722 dated December 11, 2007 "On the State Register (List) of Technical Means of Social Rehabilitation and the Procedure for Providing Them to Certain Categories of Citizens".

Priority free sanatorium-resort treatment (if there are medical indications and no medical contraindications) or health improvement (if there are no medical contraindications).

A person accompanying a disabled child under the age of 18 to sanatorium-resort or health improvement organizations is provided with vouchers for sanatorium-resort treatment or health improvement free of charge (without treatment), provided that the need for such accompaniment is confirmed by the conclusion of the medical advisory commission of a state healthcare organization.

Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 239-Z dated June 14, 2007 "On State Social Benefits, Rights and Guarantees for Certain Categories of Citizens" (subparagraph 4.7 of paragraph 4, paragraph 5 of Article 12).

Support Measures in the Field of Education

Parents raising children with disabilities, children suffering from oncological diseases, patients with tuberculosis, infected with human immunodeficiency virus, are exempt from paying for meals in institutions providing preschool education.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of February 29, 2008 No. 307 "On the amount and procedure for charging for meals for children receiving preschool education, special education at the preschool level" (para. 4).

The following are provided with free meals:

students of general secondary education institutions from among children with disabilities, studying in primary schools, basic schools, secondary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, educational and pedagogical complexes (two or three meals a day, depending on the duration of stay in the educational institution);

students in special general secondary schools (special general secondary boarding schools), auxiliary schools (auxiliary boarding schools), centers for correctional and developmental training and rehabilitation are provided with meals by these educational institutions free of charge during their studies (two, three or four meals a day, depending on the duration of stay in the educational institution).

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 21.02.2005 No. 177 "On approval of the Regulations on the organization of meals for students receiving general secondary education, special education at the general secondary education level" (para. 1).

Free use of textbooks and educational materials is established for:

persons with psychophysical development peculiarities;

children with disabilities under 18 years of age, persons with disabilities since childhood;

persons mastering the content of the preschool education program and suffering from oncological diseases or tuberculosis;

students from families where one or both parents are disabled persons of group I or II.

Code of the Republic of Belarus on Education (Part two, Art. 39).

Children with disabilities have preferential admission to secondary vocational education institutions in case of an equal total score.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 07.02.2006 No. 80 "On the rules of admission of persons for obtaining higher education of the first stage and secondary vocational education".

No fee is charged for the admission and processing of documents for participation in centralized testing for applicants who are children with disabilities under 18 years of age.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 16.04.2008 No. 565 "On charging fees for the admission and processing of documents for applicants' participation in centralized testing and on introducing amendments and additions to certain resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus".

The right to receive a social scholarship in institutions of vocational-technical, secondary vocational or higher education in case of not receiving an academic scholarship is granted to persons with disabilities.

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus on Education (Art. 42).

The heads of state educational institutions have the right to provide, during the period of obtaining higher and secondary vocational education, discounts on the formed cost of education in the manner and amounts determined by the Government of the Republic of Belarus, to students and pupils who are children with disabilities under 18 years of age.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 28.02.2006 No. 126 "On certain issues of obtaining higher and secondary vocational education on a paid basis"

(subparagraph 1.2 of paragraph 1).

Travel Benefits

Free travel on all types of urban and suburban passenger transport (except taxis) regardless of place of residence. This benefit is provided to a child with a disability under 18 years of age, as well as to a person accompanying a child with a disability under 18 years of age.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 14.06.2007 No. 239-Z "On State Social Benefits, Rights and Guarantees for Certain Categories of Citizens" (para. 13 and 17 of Art. 13, subpara. 1.12, 1.17 of para. 1 of Art. 14).

Legal Guarantees in the Sphere of Labor Relations

Working mothers (stepmothers) or fathers (stepfathers), guardians, trustees, who combine caring for a child with a disability with work, are granted one day off from work with payment at the average wage. It is possible to choose to use additional time off from work – instead of a day off per week, the employee can choose to reduce the working day (shift) by one hour.

A day off per week is granted on the condition that the employee is employed for at least 5 days with a working week duration of 40 hours (with normal working hours) or less than 40 hours (with reduced working hours).

For reference.

When determining an employee's right to a day off per week, the working week is considered within a calendar week (from Monday to Sunday inclusive), the working day is considered within a 24-hour period (from 0 to 24 hours inclusive), and the weekly working time includes the duration of the day off per week granted in that week.

When reducing the duration of work on working days in accordance with Articles 116, 117, 215 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus, a day off per week is granted.

In a complete family, a day off per week is granted to a working parent on the condition that the other parent works or has other forms of employment.

A working father (stepfather) of a child with a disability in a complete family has the right to a day off per week also in the event that the mother (stepmother) of the child with a disability is on parental leave until the child reaches the age of 3 years or is caring for a child with a disability while receiving the corresponding care allowance.

The right to additional days off can be exercised by the mother (stepmother) or father (stepfather), or divided between them at their discretion. For example, a day off per month can be taken by the mother (stepmother) in one month, and by the father (stepfather) in another month; similarly for a day off per week.

An additional day off per week is not granted in the week when an additional day off per month is granted. Thus, in one of the weeks of the month, one day off per month (paid from the state social insurance funds) can be granted, and in the remaining weeks of that month, days off per week (paid by the employer) can be taken, provided that employment conditions are met.

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (Art. 265).

Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus of 11.06.2014 No. 34 "On the procedure and conditions for granting additional days off".

Involving women raising children with disabilities under the age of 18 in night work, overtime work, work on public holidays, festive and weekend days, and sending them on business trips is permitted only with their consent.

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (Art. 263).

When drawing up the schedule of annual leave, the employer is obliged to schedule, at the request of the mother (stepmother), father (stepfather), raising a child with a disability under the age of 18, leave during the summer or other convenient time. The employer is also obliged to grant annual leave (basic and additional) for the first working year before the expiration of six months of work, at the request of the mother (stepmother), father (stepfather). Additionally, the employer is obliged, at the request of a woman raising a child with a disability under the age of 18, to grant unpaid leave for up to 14 calendar days within a calendar year.

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (Art. 166, 168, and 189).

It is prohibited to refuse a woman the conclusion of an employment contract or to reduce her salary for reasons related to having a child with a disability under the age of 18.

Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (Art. 268).

Termination of an employment contract at the initiative of the employer due to a reduction in the number or staff of employees (paragraph 1 of Article 42 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus) and in the case provided for by paragraph 5 of Article 42 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (absence from work for more than four consecutive months due to temporary incapacity for work (excluding maternity leave), unless a longer period of job retention is established by law for a specific illness), with a single parent raising a child with a disability under the age of 18, is not allowed.

Taxation Support Measures

Working parents raising children with disabilities under the age of 18 are eligible for income tax benefits – the monthly standard tax deduction from January 1, 2024, is 97 rubles for each child raised in such a family, including those who are not disabled (51 rubles for families with one child). The standard tax deduction is granted to both parents raising a child with a disability.

Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus (Art. 209, 340).

For parents – payers of a single tax raising children with disabilities under the age of 18, the rates of the single tax are reduced by 20 percent.

For working children with disabilities under the age of 18:

the standard tax deduction is 246 rubles per month from 01.01.2024 (174 rubles per month for non-privileged categories);

no probationary period is established upon hiring;

for individual entrepreneurs (other individuals), the rates of the single tax are reduced by 20 percent.

Support measures in the sphere of housing relations and utility payments

The right to receive social housing from the state housing fund is granted to citizens registered as needing to improve their housing conditions:

citizens with diseases, and citizens whose families include children with diseases specified in the list determined by the Ministry of Health, in the presence of which it is impossible to live together with persons suffering from them in one room or a one-room apartment;

disabled persons of groups I and II.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 16.12.2013 No. 563 "On certain issues of legal regulation of housing relations" (Clause 63 of the Regulation on the registration of citizens in need of improving housing conditions, and on the procedure for providing state housing fund housing, approved by this Decree).

The right to jointly use a preferential loan and a one-time subsidy for the construction (reconstruction) or acquisition of housing is granted to low-income individuals, as well as disabled persons from childhood of groups I and II.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 06.01.2012 No. 13 "On certain issues of providing state support to citizens in the construction (reconstruction) or acquisition of housing" (subparagraph 1.3).

Right to receive a subsidy for paying part of the interest on a loan issued for the construction (reconstruction) of a residential premises in the amount of the National Bank's refinancing rate, reduced by 2 percentage points, but not exceeding the interest rate on the loan established by the loan agreement

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 04.07.2017 No. 240 "On state support for citizens in the construction (reconstruction) of residential premises" (subpara. 2 of para. 1.2, subpara. 5 of para. 1.8).

Right to receive a subsidy for repayment of the principal debt on a loan issued for the construction (reconstruction) of a residential premises is granted to individuals, as of the date of application for a subsidy for paying part of the interest, upon the birth (adoption) of a child – 10% of the principal debt amount; upon the birth (adoption) of a second child – 20% of the principal debt amount.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 04.07.2017 No. 240 "On State Support for Citizens in the Construction (Reconstruction) of Residential Premises" (subpara. 1, part two of subpara. 1.10).

Payment for gas supply services, supply of liquefied petroleum gas from individual cylinder installations by families raising a child with a disability is carried out at subsidized tariffs for the population without applying the established procedure for charging differentiated fees.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 12.06.2014 No. 571 (para. 10 of the Regulation on the procedure for calculating and making payments for housing and communal services and payment for the use of residential premises of state housing stock, as well as reimbursement of expenses for electricity, approved by this resolution).

Other benefits and guarantees

Since 05.06.2020, parents (adoptive parents, guardians) of children with disabilities under the age of 18 are reimbursed 50 percent of customs duties and taxes payable upon import of vehicles for personal use into the territory of the Republic of Belarus, with the exception of watercraft and aircraft.

Reimbursement is made from the republican budget once within a year to individuals permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

For reference.

The calculation of the year begins at 00 hours 00 minutes of the day of release of the vehicle into free circulation with reimbursement of 50 percent of customs duties and taxes. That is, if a vehicle was imported with reimbursement, for example, on May 1, 2019, then the next vehicle with reimbursement can be imported a year later, starting from May 2, 2020.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 10.04.2019 No. 140 "On Reimbursement of Customs Duties and Taxes".

Citizens raising a child with a disability are granted deferment from conscription for active military service, service in the reserve.

Law of the Republic of Belarus of 05.11.1992 No. 1914-XII "On Military Duty and Military Service" (Art. 32).