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- To raise it to a minimum: the State Duma proposed to increase the single allowance for disabled children
To raise it to a minimum: the State Duma proposed to increase the single allowance for disabled children
The monthly allowance for the birth and upbringing of a child, assigned to children with disabilities, was proposed to be increased. It may amount to a living wage per child, set in the region (in Moscow in 2025 it is 20,663 rubles). This initiative was put forward in the State Duma. The increase in the amount will make it possible to purchase the necessary medicines, special meals, and rehabilitation equipment without compromising the basic needs of the family, experts say. At the same time, the new rule will create an additional burden on the budget. Whether an increase in benefits for families with disabled children will help is in the Izvestia article.
Provide a decent level
In Russia, the monthly allowance paid in connection with the birth and upbringing of a disabled child may be increased. This is stated in the inter-factional bill submitted to the State Duma. It can be increased to the level of the subsistence minimum per child, established in a specific region of the Russian Federation.
They want to amend article 10 of the Law "On State benefits for citizens with children." The purpose of the proposed bill is to increase the level of financial support for families raising children with disabilities.
The authors of the initiative note that such families face many difficulties, including financial, medical and social ones. In particular, parents of children with disabilities often have to leave their jobs to provide constant child care, which leads to a significant decrease in income. As a result, the cost of medical examinations, tests and specialized equipment exceeds the financial capacity of the family.
"Ensuring a decent standard of living for children with disabilities is one of the main tasks of the state, therefore, the payment of a single allowance in an increased amount will be a step towards supporting the most vulnerable category of citizens," the explanatory note to the bill emphasizes.
It is expected that the increase in the amount of the allowance will contribute to providing quality child care and rehabilitation.
Parliamentarians recognize that the increase in payments will create an additional burden on the budget. The total number of disabled children in Russia, according to Rosstat data for 2023, was 755,459 people. Based on these data, the authors of the initiative believe that expenditures from the federal budget during the implementation of the initiative will grow by an average of more than 15 billion rubles annually.
The editorial board of Izvestia sent inquiries to the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Social Fund of Russia and the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation. No responses had been received at the time of publication.
The question of sufficiency
Assistance to families with disabled children is one of the priority areas of social assistance in Russia. Today, such families receive a range of support measures aimed at improving their quality of life, the Popular Front expert notes. Analytics" by Irina Blinkova. These include several types of cash payments — a social disability pension, a monthly cash payment, compensation for caring for a disabled child, as well as regional payments and benefits, she lists.
The amount of the universal benefit varies depending on family income, says Nadezhda Kapustina, professor at the Department of Economic Security and Risk Management at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. Its base amount is half of the child's subsistence level in the region, and if the criteria of need are met, it can reach the full subsistence level.
The assignment of benefits occurs after a comprehensive assessment of the need, taking into account the property and income of the family, the expert clarifies. Payments are transferred monthly to the recipient's bank account.
As of June, the payment for caring for children with disabilities and those with disabilities from childhood of the first group amounts to 10,950 rubles, the press service of the Brave Ya charitable Foundation told Izvestia. Since the beginning of the year, this amount has been indexed by 9.5%.
According to the fund, citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside in the country and take care of a disabled child or a disabled person from childhood of the first group have the right to receive payments. The procedure for its registration provides for a clear procedure for submitting documents and regulating labor relations. The recipient may be a person who does not work at all or who works part-time. When making a payment, the employer's documentary confirmation of a special work regime is required. It is necessary to confirm the implementation of care annually.
Individual expenses
Increasing payments to the level of the regional subsistence level will be a significant help for families with disabled children, Nadezhda Kapustina believes. This will make it possible to purchase the necessary medicines, special meals, and rehabilitation equipment without compromising the basic needs of the family.
An increase in the amount of the allowance will have a positive impact on the financial situation of families with disabled children, the Brave Ya Charity Foundation agrees. This approach reflects the State's concern for families experiencing increased financial stress due to a child's disability. However, it is important to consider the individual needs of each family and possible budget constraints.
The total income of families with disabled children often exceeds the minimum subsistence level, but due to the high costs of treatment, the family often still does not have enough money, Irina Blinkova notes.
Many of the procedures and medicines necessary for the child are paid for additionally, which significantly increases the financial burden on the family, the press service of the charitable foundation confirms. In addition, children with disabilities often need special devices and equipment, the cost of which is high. Family budgets are also under strain due to the costs of psychological services and adaptation of the living environment.
— Although the increase in benefits is a positive step, it still remains insufficient to fully meet the needs of families with disabled children. A set of government support measures is needed to solve the problem, the fund believes.
The proposed increase can be considered an important step forward, but the ideal solution would be to introduce a special increased standard for children with disabilities, taking into account the real needs of such families, Kapustina is sure.
"It is important not so much to increase the number of payments as to improve the quality of in—kind benefits, as well as to improve the availability of medical care and rehabilitation, taking into account the specifics of disability," Blinkova is convinced.
An imperfect solution
The amendment proposed by the deputies is aimed at additional support for families raising children with disabilities and deserves careful consideration, said Ilya Rusyaev, managing partner of Rusyaev and Partners, a lawyer. However, this decision raises questions in terms of its relationship with the existing legislation.
The possibility of receiving benefits in full is already provided if a number of conditions are met, the expert recalls. The mechanism for assessing need is currently the basis for assigning most social benefits.
— At the same time, special income calculation rules already apply for families with disabled children: compensation payments for care, medical expenses and part of the property are not included. These conditions significantly expand families' access to the maximum level of benefits, they were introduced to more accurately take into account the life situation," the Izvestia interlocutor draws attention.
The correlation with budgetary possibilities also raises questions. The target group of recipients of payments is relatively small, and therefore the burden on the budget will be about 16 billion, notes Nadezhda Kapustina. At the same time, additional budget revenues for the year may amount to 684 billion rubles. Some of these funds can be used to implement this initiative, which will allow the state's financial system to adapt to the proposed changes.
"However, a decision of this level requires not only an assessment of current opportunities, but also sustainable, long—term financing mechanisms, especially in the context of programs aimed at systemic support for families with children," warns Rusyaev.
It will also require a rational redistribution of funds within the social block, optimization of administrative costs and increased targeting of other support programs, Kapustina lists. This will create the necessary financial reserve. And the long-term economic effect of improving the quality of life of children with disabilities and increasing the labor potential of their families compensates for the initial costs.
However, there is a less obvious risk. The establishment of a cash payment in the amount of the regional minimum subsistence level may lead to the emergence of "social tourism", when families fictitiously move to regions with higher payments, admits Irina Blinkova. Although, to combat this phenomenon, legal norms are already in force today, providing for documentary proof of the recipient's residence in a particular region.
In general, the deputies' initiative raises an important topic, but it needs additional work, Rusyaev is convinced.
— It may require a detailed discussion involving specialists in social policy and finance in order to find a balance between the desire to strengthen support and compliance with the already established principles of assigning payments. This approach will help ensure a more sustainable and coordinated development of social support in this sensitive area," the expert concludes.
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