Support for carers in 2026: new payments, indexation, and conditions for receiving them

In 2026, the system of support for guardians, carers and foster families was expanded by indexing existing benefits and launching a new annual payment for families with two or more children. The changes affected both federal assistance measures and the rules for assigning individual social benefits. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

Major changes in 2026

State Duma deputy, Deputy Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee Kaplan Panes (LDPR faction) told Izvestia that supporting families who have taken care of children left without parental care is not just a social obligation of the state, but a moral duty.

— Guardians, foster parents, and adoptive parents perform the most important task of giving children a home and family. In 2026, we will continue to strengthen this support through the planned indexation of existing payments and the introduction of new targeted assistance measures. This year, guardians, foster parents and adoptive parents can count on the established set of benefits," Panes said.

The key remains the one-time allowance for the transfer of a child to a family, which from February 1, 2026 amounts to 28,773 rubles, and for the placement of a disabled child, children over seven years old or siblings — 219,854 rubles.

The monthly child care allowance for up to one and a half years remains in effect, which can be issued by a guardian or other caring relative: the minimum payment in 2026 is 10,837 rubles per month, and the maximum reaches 83,021 rubles, which corresponds to 40% of average earnings.

— Their specific size is set at the regional level. For example, in Sevastopol, starting from February 1, this payment for children in foster care and in foster homes has been increased to 26,100 rubles per month. In many regions, such as the Ulyanovsk region, these benefits and additional payments are also being indexed, for example, remuneration to foster parents or additional payments for those living in rural areas," Panesh said.

He also said that an important innovation in 2026, which also affects substitute families, is the introduction of an annual family allowance for parents with two or more children.

— Adoptive parents, guardians and caregivers are also entitled to it. The payment is targeted: it can be received by families whose average per capita income does not exceed one and a half subsistence levels, provided that the parents have an official income and pay personal income tax on it," the State Duma deputy shared.

According to him, the amount of the payment is individual and is calculated as the difference between the tax paid at the rate of 13% and the notional amount of tax at the rate of 6% on the same income. It will be possible to make this payment through the Social Fund of Russia from June 1 to October 1, 2026 for income received in 2025.

Additional information

The payment is targeted: it can be received by families whose average per capita income does not exceed one and a half subsistence levels, provided that the parents have an official income and pay personal income tax on it. The amount of the payment is individual and is calculated as the difference between the tax paid at the rate of 13% and the notional tax amount at the rate of 6% on the same income.

In addition, substitute families, like all families with children, are eligible to receive a single benefit, which combines several previous support measures, according to Panes.

All federal payments, including a one-time allowance for the transfer of a child to a family, have been indexed since February 1, 2026. Initially, an indexation of 6.8% was forecast, but the final coefficient was determined at 5.6% based on updated inflation data for 2025.

What will change in the lives of Russians from February 1

Indexation of the parent capital, limits on family mortgages and other innovations

Other important changes

Since January 1, 2026, the unified allowance for low—income families with children has been indexed - its maximum amount is now 18,371 rubles per month. The maternity capital will be increased by 5.6% from February 1 and will remain in place for adoption.

The rules for assigning a single benefit have also been changed: now the income of an able-bodied family member for the last year must be at least eight minimum wages, which in 2026 corresponds to 216,744 rubles, while this requirement does not apply to pensioners and people with disabilities.

How to make payments

To receive most federal benefits, you must contact the Social Fund of Russia through the Gosuslugi portal, the IFC, or the fund's client services. The conditions for providing regional payments to foster families, including compensation to foster parents or regional maternity capital, should be clarified with the social protection authorities at the place of residence.