Pension disadvantage: errors in the workbook reduce pension payments
Errors in the workbook can lead to a reduction in the size of the future pension or even to the non-accounting of certain periods of service. This is not only about gross violations, but also about formal inaccuracies, from typos to incorrect corrections. For more information about which records may affect payments and how to avoid problems, see the Izvestia article.
What mistakes affect retirement?
According to Federal Law No. 400-FZ of December 28, 2013 "On Insurance Pensions", at least 15 years of service and 30 pension coefficients are required to receive an insurance pension in 2026. At the same time, the length of service is formed according to different rules: before 2002, documented periods of work are taken into account, after that only those for which insurance premiums were paid.
Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, noted that any inaccuracies in the documents could affect the final payments.
— To receive an insurance pension, it is important to have seniority and retirement points. Errors in documents confirming insurance and non—insurance experience before 2002 may affect the overall picture when assigning a pension," he explained.
According to him, in practice there are situations when data is transmitted incorrectly.
— There could be cases when the employer provided incomplete or incorrect information about insurance premiums. This directly affects the number of pension points and, consequently, the amount of payments," said Nilov.
He also drew attention to the so-called non-insurance periods.
— Pension rights are formed not only through work, but also through non—insurance periods - military service, caring for children or disabled relatives. If such periods are not taken into account or reflected with errors, it also affects the final pension," the deputy added.
Which entries may not be counted
From a legal point of view, the key mistakes are those that do not allow us to confirm the fact of work itself or identify a person. Irina Gritsenko, a lawyer at the Legal Policy Bar Association, explained that such cases include not only missing records, but also formal violations.
— Any errors that do not allow us to reliably establish the fact of work, the period of work or the identity of the employee are critical. This may be a lack of information about the employer, dates of admission and dismissal, and details of orders," she noted.
According to her, contradictions in the data are a particular problem.
— Contradictory entries are also considered significant, for example, inconsistencies in dates or different wording in documents. In such cases, the Social Fund may not count the length of service until the discrepancies are eliminated," the lawyer explained.
The expert paid special attention to personal data.
— Discrepancies in full name or date of birth with passport or SNILS are critical. With such discrepancies, it is impossible to establish the identity unequivocally, and the length of service can be excluded," Hrytsenko emphasized.
How to correct mistakes correctly
Even if the error is minor, incorrect correction can make the situation worse. Since 2021, the registration rules have become stricter. This is stipulated by the order of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation dated 05/19/2021 No. 320n "On approval of the form, procedure for maintaining and storing workbooks" (Chapter 2, paragraphs 8-10 of Appendix No. 2), which replaced outdated instructions.
— It is unacceptable to cross out entries or make corrections on top of the text. The only correct way is to invalidate the entry and make a new one with an indication of the reason," Hrytsenko said.
She clarified that each adjustment must be documented.
— The new entry must specify the details of the order or other document on the basis of which the changes are being made. The record must be signed and, if available, stamped by the organization," the expert added.
How to confirm the length of service in case of errors
If there are no entries in the workbook or there are doubts, the length of service can be confirmed with other documents.
— These can be employment contracts, archival certificates, orders on admission and dismissal, payslips, salary payment documents, — Hrytsenko explained.
At the same time, according to her, information from the individual accounting system has priority.
"Information from an individual personal account is basic, but entries in the workbook are also taken into account, especially for periods before the introduction of personalized accounting," she noted.
If the employer is liquidated, the citizen can apply to the court to resolve the issue.
"If it is impossible to obtain documents, the issue is resolved in court, but this is a lengthy procedure, so it is better to resolve the situation in advance," the lawyer added.
How and where to check your retirement information
Experts recommend not postponing background checks until retirement.
— An extract from an individual personal account can be obtained through the Gosuslugi portal, the IFC or the Social Fund. This allows you to see how many years of service and points have already been taken into account," said Yaroslav Nilov.
According to him, modern services make it possible to estimate future payments in advance.
"There is an online calculator on the Social Fund's website that allows you to calculate the approximate amount of a pension, taking into account length of service and other parameters," he added.
If discrepancies are found, it is better to eliminate them in advance.
— If something is reflected incorrectly in the system, it is better to find out before retirement and, if necessary, provide supporting documents, - the deputy concluded.
Careful verification of documents and timely correction of errors make it possible to avoid loss of seniority and reduce the risk of not receiving pension payments.
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