The last month of winter promises millions of Russians a pleasant increase in child benefits, social benefits and maternity capital. The details of the February social innovations of “MK” were revealed by experts.
Increase in mother’s capital
The norm comes into force, according to which maternity capital should be indexed according to actual, and not according to forecast inflation. The head of state signed the corresponding law in December. According to the document, it is planned to increase the amount of payment on February 1.
Now, within the framework of the state program of materiel, 483,882 rubles are allocated for the first child, and 639,432 rubles for the second. If the family has already been paid money for the first child, when a second child appears, 155,550 rubles are charged.
As previously thought, from February 1, 2022, the amount of the payment for the first child should have increased to 503,237 rubles, and for the second – up to 665,009 rubles. However, taking into account changes in legislation, the values will be noticeably higher.
Natalya MILCHAKOVA, Deputy Head of the Alpari IAC, comments:
“This is the right decision. However, I do not want to say that the indexation of maternity capital according to actual inflation is a big progress. Rather, it is a correction of the admitted distortions. It is rather strange that maternity capital has so far been indexed to forecast inflation, and not to actual inflation – after all, its recipients previously bore the risk that the authorities’ forecasts would not come true, and inflation would be more significant than previously thought. Starting February 1, 2022, mother capital will be indexed by 8.4%, that is, at the level of official inflation according to Rosstat. Thus, for example, the amount of maternity capital for the first child from February 1, taking into account indexation for actual inflation, will be 524.5 thousand rubles, an increase of 40.6 thousand rubles. This is a very good increase, and it’s great that the state is correcting some of the shortcomings in this project. However, if you treat the innovation not emotionally, but with a cool head, you can pay attention to the fact that the ruble this year, for various reasons, may continue to depreciate. Therefore, it is likely that by the end of the year the amount of your maternity capital in terms of dollars or euros may be less than it was before indexation. However, if the ruble rises in price, then the recipients of the mother’s capital will win twice – both in nominal terms and in real terms.
Mark GOIKHMAN, chief analyst at TeleTrade:
“Inflation in Russia is capricious and does not obey forecasts. Therefore, it has now been decided to index the mother’s capital according to the principle of the well-known meme “no need to rush” … It will not be carried out as before, from January 1, according to the forecast price increase for the previous year, but from February 1, according to the actual one. On January 12, Rosstat determined this level at 8.4%. And the originally planned amounts of changes proceeded from the optimistic assumption of an increase in inflation by only 4%. We didn’t meet it … Therefore, now the mother’s capital in 2022 will be 524.5 thousand rubles for the first child, 693.1 thousand rubles for the second. Surcharge for it – 168.8 thousand rubles, if the amount for the first child was previously received.
Increasing social benefits
Some social payments will be indexed in February. In particular, the minimum allowance for caring for a child under the age of 1.5 years will increase. Now it is 7083 rubles, its increase by 5.8% was previously announced – up to 7493 rubles. But its maximum size was adjusted on January 1 and today is 31,283 rubles. The allowance itself is paid in the amount of 40% of the average wage, but it cannot be lower than the established minimum and maximum. Until 19981 in February, the lump-sum allowance for the birth of a child will increase, now its size is 18886 rubles.
After indexation on February 1, the amount of a lump sum payment to an employee in connection with disability in the event of an occupational disease or an accident at work will be 114,899 rubles, the maximum monthly payment will increase to 88,346 rubles.
In February, the monthly cash payment will increase, which instead of a set of social services, some beneficiaries receive – the disabled, war veterans, people exposed to radiation, Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia, as well as Heroes of Socialist Labor. The kit itself includes medicines, medical products and medical nutrition for disabled children, a voucher for sanatorium treatment for the prevention of major diseases, free travel by suburban rail transport or intercity transport to the place of treatment and back.
The funeral allowance, which the Pension Fund pays to the relatives of the deceased pensioner, will also increase if he did not work.
Mark GOIKHMAN comments:
“The indexation of social benefits is based on a not entirely clear inflation rate of 5.8%. After all, its planned level was 4%, the actual level was 8.4%, according to Rosstat. It turns out that the compensation of social benefits does not reach the actual inflation, in contrast to the mother’s capital. Probably because their recipients are much larger, and more significant budget expenditures are needed for full indexation of inflation. Apparently, the financiers have calculated the percentage “from the opposite.” He was determined on the basis of limited amounts. And not vice versa, which would be logical.”
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