Social pensions will be indexed in Russia: the amount and date of increase have been announced

From April 1, 2026, indexation of social pensions and state pension benefits will take place in Russia. Payments will increase by 6.8%, and the increase will affect about 4.3 million Russians. The budget of the Social Fund of Russia for the April increase provides for about 44 billion rubles. For more information about who will receive higher payments and how the size of pensions will change, see the Izvestia article.

Who will be affected by the indexation of social pensions from April 1

As Nikita Chaplin, a State Duma deputy from the United Russia faction and a member of the Budget and Taxes Committee, explained to Izvestia, the indexation will primarily affect recipients of social pensions.

— These are citizens who, for various reasons, do not have sufficient insurance experience to receive an insurance pension or have not earned it at all. This category includes people with disabilities of groups I, II and III, people with disabilities since childhood, children with disabilities, as well as citizens who have lost a breadwinner," he said.

In addition, social pensions are awarded to representatives of small-numbered peoples of the North, orphaned children and citizens who have reached retirement age but have not reached the required length of service or pension coefficients for an insurance pension.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Polina Violet

According to the MP, the April increase will also affect recipients of state pension provision.

— This category includes participants of the Great Patriotic War, citizens awarded the badges "To a resident of besieged Leningrad", "A resident of besieged Sevastopol" and "A resident of besieged Stalingrad". They are also conscripted military personnel, cosmonauts, test pilots, citizens affected by radiation or man-made disasters, and their family members," Chaplin said.

In an advanced position: the difference in pensions in the regions has reached a record 24.5 thousand

Why is this gap growing and how to smooth out the inequality

How will the amount of payments change from April 1, 2026

After the indexation, basic social pensions will increase by 6.8%. Thus, the old-age social pension will increase from about 8824 to 9424 rubles. The pension of a disabled person of group I will increase from 17,648 to 18,848 rubles, and the social pension of a disabled child or a disabled person from childhood of group I will increase from 21,178 to 22,618 rubles.

According to Nikita Chaplin, the indexation coefficient in 2026 has been approved at 1.068.

— The average size of the social pension after indexation will reach 16,590 rubles, — said the deputy.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Konkov

He also stressed that the recalculation of payments will be made automatically.

— Recalculation is performed in an undeclared manner. Pensioners do not need to submit an application, but it is recommended to check the relevance of their personal data through the Gosuslugi portal or at the territorial branch of the Social Fund," Chaplin explained.

How does a social pension differ from an insurance pension?

Petr Shcherbachenko, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, explained that a social pension differs from an insurance pension in terms of its purpose.

"An insurance pension is a monthly payment that compensates a citizen for lost earnings and depends on insurance experience and pension coefficients," he said.

A social pension, on the contrary, is awarded to citizens who are not eligible for an insurance pension.

"A social pension is a monthly cash payment from the federal budget, which is intended for disabled citizens permanently residing in Russia who do not have the necessary insurance experience or pension points," the expert explained.

The difference framework: the gap between the pensions of working and unemployed will decrease to 2-3 thousand.

When will the payments be equal and how to ensure a comfortable old age?

According to him, such a pension is awarded for several reasons: for old age, disability, loss of breadwinner, as well as for children whose parents are unknown.

What is indexing for?

According to Petr Shcherbachenko, the increase in social pensions is primarily aimed at supporting the most vulnerable categories of the population. In total, the decision will affect about 4.3 million people, including 3.6 million pensioners receiving social pensions.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Polina Violet

According to the expert, the indexation is designed to compensate for rising prices and support the incomes of citizens who are unable to receive an insurance pension.

— The social pension does not depend on work experience and pension points. It is assigned to people who, for various reasons, cannot provide for themselves or are not eligible for an insurance pension," Shcherbachenko explained.

At the same time, additional support measures are provided for pensioners whose payments remain below the subsistence level in the region. According to Nikita Chaplin, a deputy of the State Duma from the United Russia faction, in such cases a federal or regional social supplement is assigned. The deadline for making decisions on its establishment has been reduced to two working days, and the citizen is notified on the day the decision is made.