Marital behavior is an indicator of social, economic and cultural changes taking place in society. In the minds of many, the North Caucasus remains a stronghold of a traditional family with a high birth rate and rare divorces, but in the XXI century, the regions of the North Caucasus are subject to the same trends as Russia as a whole. The years of the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on many aspects of life, including family and marriage relations. In 2020, the Russian government introduced various measures to support families with children aimed at improving the well-being of families, but they led to the opposite results. The purpose of this study is to study the reasons for the growth of divorces in North Ossetia, where in 2021 the divorce rate equaled the marriage rate. Statistical indicators of marital behavior were studied, as well as a content analysis of social networks was conducted to determine the reasons for the increase in divorces according to users, the study showed that the increase in the number of divorces coincides with changes in the rules for obtaining various benefits for low-income families. Since April 2021, the zero income rule has been applied to receive benefits, only those families who have any income during the billing period or have a valid reason for its absence have the right to payments. To circumvent this rule, many people use a fictitious divorce, which allows them to claim financial assistance from the state. Analysis of other economic indicators suggests that the level of financial well-being of the population of North Ossetia is declining, which forces them to rely on social assistance, and not on their own income. The stability of marriages directly depends on the financial well-being of the family.