The idea of moving retirement points from children to parents adds a new layer of complexity to household budgeting. Experts stress the importance of establishing a clear time frame for families to declare intentions, ideally well before any changes take effect. In a discussion with socialbites.ca, economist Igor Balynin, a Candidate of Economic Sciences and Associate Professor in the Department of Public Finance at the Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation, outlined the core considerations and proposed a one-time transfer option to support parents. He also noted that such a move would require careful planning to avoid destabilizing the wider pension framework and to help households adapt to shifting rules.
“Article 38 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation states the obligation of children to care for their parents, so if a pension has already been allocated or there are enough pension points to pay for it, it seems to me more logical to support parents directly, rather than through an intermediary. In this case, as far as I understand, the establishment of the Russian Social Fund is desired. 1-2 pension points per year are of course not enough: one pension point in the ruble equivalent is 133.05 rubles,” said the economist. Balynin stressed that direct support could streamline assistance while keeping the focus on ensuring that old-age payments remain anchored in the broader social insurance system. The idea would be to eyes open to the practicalities of administration and to the need for clear guidelines so families can plan with confidence.
He considered it more logical to create the possibility of a one-time transfer of accumulated points from the child’s account to the parent’s account if there is not enough money to allocate the old-age insurance pension. The expert reminded readers that the old-age pension is a payment within the framework of compulsory social insurance. Accordingly, one of the features of the insurance financing mechanism is to encourage the insured to work, which means any new transfer rule would have to preserve that incentive and not undermine long-term labor participation or the sustainability of pension funds.
Therefore, the economist considered it important to introduce additional fair restrictions on one-time transfer: for example, more than 50-100% of points already accumulated by the parent (and if you follow the issue of accounting for large families), this limit can be set for each child, and not cumulatively and children’s compliance with the minimum insurance period conditions. According to Balynin, then a mechanism will be created to support citizens who do not have enough retirement points because they are actually low-paid. In practice, that means a careful balance between helping households during tight times and maintaining the integrity of the pension system so future retirees still receive reliable support without creating distortion in savings behavior or wage negotiations.
The State Duma has developed a bill that would allow Russians to transfer their pension points to parents who do not qualify for a pension. It will be possible to transfer a maximum of two retirement points per year. MPs are confident that this will increase the pensions of the older generation and improve their living standards. The proposal would require robust implementation rules, transparent reporting, and clear eligibility criteria to ensure fairness across families and regions while supporting those most in need.
Earlier forecasts suggested the average pension level for 2025, reflecting the evolving cost of living and the shifting balance of retirement benefits. Analysts note that any change in how points move between generations could ripple through household plans, local budgets, and consumer spending, making orderly execution and sound governance essential for preserving confidence in the pension system across the country.