Unfortunately, very few Russian pensioners can adequately live on the pension allowance that is prescribed by law. This is especially true for the most vulnerable Russian citizens: disabled people, veterans and people receiving other social benefits. That is why the increase in the retirement pension promised from April 1 raised a lot of questions: how and to whom the increase is due, how much others will add. We note right away that the planned increase is unlikely to significantly increase the standard of living of Russian pensioners, since prices in stores, unfortunately, are growing much faster than pensions are indexed.
Pension changes 2016
The last increase in pension actually showed that it occurs mainly on paper. The situation is no better this year. If you really look at things, you can see that pensioners will have to tighten their belts even tighter. The fact is that pensions are not going to be raised, but simply indexed at the appropriate level of inflation.
The increase in pension from April 1 will only affect social contributions: accruals for old age, loss of breadwinner or disability. Payments to all these categories of citizens will be increased by only 4%. The payment procedure is spelled out in Federal Law No. 400, which regulates the nature of the annual adjustments for social payments. The same law regulated the previous increase on February 1: benefits - by 7%, pensions and monthly cash payments - by 4%.
Such an insignificant, purely formal percentage increase in pensions is due to the fact that the federal budget has a clear shortage of funds. But it is he who subsidizes the Pension Fund of Russia.
It is worth noting that this is the second, albeit slight increase since the beginning of the year. However, all these payments still do not cover the current inflation rate, fixed at 12.9 percent.
Who can count on indexing?
In principle, all social pensioners, both ordinary and those who continue to work, can count on the April Fools' surprise. An amount equivalent to the growth of the fund’s revenue will be allocated for these purposes. So, they can hope for an increase in their pension from April 1:
- persons with disabilities of any group, including persons with disabilities from childhood and children with disabilities;
- children receiving survivor benefits if they have not reached the age of majority (hospital students - 23 years old);
- children of a deceased single mother, if they have not reached the age of majority (full-time students - no more than 23 years old);
- women and men who have reached retirement age (60 and 65 years respectively), if they cannot apply for other types of payments, except for social pension;
- men (60 years old) and women (55 years old) living in the territories of small indigenous peoples of the Far North (Russian);
- those belonging to such peoples on a national basis, regardless of where they live;
- liquidators at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as persons affected by this accident;
- civil servants who have gained sufficient experience;
- test pilots, astronauts and other military personnel with relevant experience;
- those who have received disabilities due to the performance of official duties;
- invalids and veterans of the Second World War, as well as citizens involved in the defense of cities;
- blockades.
Which of the working pensioners will lose their pensions
Initially, it was assumed that indexing the size of the retirement pension will only be to those working pensioners who are officially employed and receive a “white” wage. And only then, when the size of the latter is at least 2.5 times the official cost of living in this region.
However, in practice, everything turned out to be wrong. Now, retirees who continue to work, can no longer expect to receive allowances and indexation. However, if the labor activity is terminated after the indexation, the pension allowance will be recalculated taking into account all previous indexations. It turns out that now citizens who theoretically have taken a well-deserved rest, but continue to work, have no indexation at all, at least until they actually stop working. More precisely, there will be an increase, but only on paper, the money will be counted after the pensioner leaves his job.
Pensions for civil servants
The increase in pensions from April 1 will not affect this category of citizens either. Since in February, gentlemen, officials have already received a small “supplement” to their retirement, the next increase should be expected no earlier than autumn, and only then if there is money.
In addition, officials are waiting for another surprise. It is expected that from 01.01.17 a law will be enacted to increase the retirement age for civil servants: 63 years for women and 65 for men. It is also planned to increase the period of compulsory employment in the civil service, which gives the right to accrue pension benefits - from 15 years to 20. And high-ranking officials are supposed to cancel additional payments for seniority, which is quite logical, given their already considerable salaries and pensions.
Will old-age pension increase
But older Russians receiving old-age social benefits can expect a pension increase from April 1. The average surcharge for this category of citizens will be 250 rubles. Thus, the average pension (social) amount will amount to 8 thousand 560 rubles, old-age insurance benefit - 13 thousand 132 rubles.
Average pension after indexation to persons with disabilities
Since the percentage of increase in pension is the same for all those who are entitled to indexation (4%), the payment to disabled children will increase by as much as 450 Russian rubles. A little less - 440 rubles - will receive disabled people who have received their status during the passage of military service.
Persons with disabilities of other categories can count on amounts ranging from 165 to 450 rubles, depending on the assigned group.
But it was decided to postpone the increase in labor disability pensions to October, so there is nothing to wait in April.
Other promotions
367 rubles - this is exactly the amount that families of military conscripts who receive a survivor's pension will receive in addition. Most of all, namely, by a whole thousand rubles, pension payments to Russian citizens from among the disabled people who have received their illness as a result of a "military" injury will increase, and participants in the Second World War who receive a double pension.
From April 1, EDV will also be indexed - monthly cash payments. For different categories of citizens, they will grow in the range of 100-180 Russian rubles.
