Measures to support single mothers: what will change in Russia in 2026

In 2026, Russia has a set of federal and regional measures to support single mothers, including payments, labor and tax benefits, as well as new legislative initiatives for families with children. The amount of assistance depends on the official status and income level of the family. The Izvestia article describes who is recognized as a single mother, what support measures are available, and what changes have taken effect since 2026.

Who is recognized as a single mother

The status of a single mother is assigned in cases when the child's birth certificate has a dash in the "father" column or the information is entered from the mother's words if there is a certificate from the registry office.

This status is also granted to unmarried women who have adopted a child, as well as in the presence of a court decision on the death of the father, deprivation of his parental rights or recognition as missing. The basis may be a challenge to paternity in court or the birth of a child more than 300 days after the dissolution of marriage or the death of a spouse.

At the same time, divorced women, even if the father of the child does not pay alimony, do not formally belong to the category of single mothers.

Basic benefits and payments for single mothers

State Duma deputy, Deputy Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee Kaplan Panes said that in 2026, a wide range of support measures will remain in place for single mothers, as well as new initiatives aimed at improving housing conditions and improving the quality of life. According to him, the state considers assistance to such families as a priority area of social policy.

In the field of work, single mothers are protected from dismissal at the initiative of the employer if they have a child under 14 years old, and if they are disabled — up to 18 years old, except in cases of liquidation of the organization or gross violations.

Women with children under the age of five may not be involved in overtime, night shifts, or business trips without written consent, and they may be granted additional unpaid leave of up to 14 days per year.

— Raising children alone is serious work that requires a lot of dedication and effort. The state strives to support such parents, and in 2026, a wide range of assistance measures is being maintained, as well as new initiatives are being developed to improve their living conditions and general well-being. The main thing that every single mother needs to know is that you are not alone, and your rights are reliably protected by law," Panes said.

Federal benefits are also retained. These include maternity benefits, the amount of which depends on earnings, as well as monthly child care assistance for up to one and a half years in the amount of 40% of average income with a set minimum and maximum.

A single benefit for children under 17 is available for low-income families, the amount of which depends on the region. In addition, single mothers can receive maternity capital at the birth of their first and second children, and additional measures are in place at the regional level — compensation for food and utilities, travel benefits, and priority for kindergarten enrollment.

Indexation of social benefits in February 2026: who will be increased and by how much

The indexation will affect families with children, pensioners, the disabled and other beneficiaries.

What new measures are the deputies considering and introducing?

Panes also noted that starting in 2026, all periods of parental leave up to one and a half years are fully included in the insurance record, without previous restrictions, which is especially important for mothers with many children. In addition, single parents can participate in federal programs, including a "Family Mortgage."

Since January 2026, new initiatives have begun to operate, including a "tax cashback" for working parents with two or more children with low incomes, which allows them to return part of the personal income tax paid. The possibilities of receiving tax—free payments from the employer at the birth of a child have been expanded - up to 1 million rubles. For parents with many children, restrictions on accounting for periods of child care up to one and a half years in the insurance record have been lifted.

Monthly payments to heroine mothers or an expanded package of benefits to choose from have also been introduced, and a social pension has been established for children born 300 days after their father's death. The authorities are preparing proposals for a comprehensive modernization of the family support system, taking into account the number of children.

How to apply for status and benefits

To confirm the status, you will need a birth certificate with a dash in the "father" column or an entry from the mother's words and a corresponding certificate from the registry office, and in some cases, court decisions or a death certificate. For labor benefits, you should contact the employer's HR department, for tax deductions — to the employer or the Federal Tax Service, for benefits — to the Social Fund of Russia through the IFC or the Gosuslug portal, and for regional measures — to the social protection authorities.

The conditions for providing assistance may vary by region, so it is recommended to check the relevant information on the official resources of the regional authorities and in the customer services of the SFR.