In Russia, since March 1, the rules for calculating child benefits have changed, RIA Novosti reports. Now the unclaimed procedure for assigning monthly allowances for the first and second child under three years old to families whose average per capita income does not exceed two living wages is no longer valid.
Previously, the procedure was simplified due to the coronavirus pandemic, and charges were automatically extended. Now, in order to extend the benefits from parents, it will be necessary to collect all the necessary documents again. In addition, the social security authorities and the Pension Fund must be informed about the change of residence and about the circumstances leading to the termination of payments.
At the end of last year, the Accounts Chamber concluded that about 80 percent of poor families in Russia in the period from 2014 to 2018 received social benefits. According to calculations, the total amount of funding for measures to reduce poverty and ensure growth in real incomes of Russians in 2019-2024 will amount to 15.3 trillion rubles.
However, a third of the funds from them do not affect the stated goals, and one of the main problems of state policy is insufficient targeting of aid. Achievement of the declared indicators allows direct payments and compensation of expenses, for which about 10 trillion rubles have been allocated. But the rest of the mechanisms for which money is spent contain critical flaws.