This year, Associate Professor Larisa Sorokina of the Faculty of Economics at RUDN University outlined new criteria for receiving a universal family and pregnancy allowance. The policy shift centers on how a family’s living standard is measured and who qualifies for regular financial support during pregnancy and after birth. The goal is to ensure that families with limited resources receive predictable assistance that helps cover essential needs during a vulnerable period and as children grow. This change highlights the importance of income assessment and regional living costs, as the exact level of support is tied to the local subsistence minimum, which varies across regions and communities.
During a recent briefing with the agency Hitting the Primer, officials clarified that eligibility hinges on the average per capita income within the family. If this metric falls at or below the regional subsistence minimum, the household becomes eligible to receive these payments. The framework makes eligibility more transparent, centering on concrete money metrics rather than broader categories. It also underscores the role of regional economic conditions in shaping caregiver support and child welfare policies, acknowledging that costs of living differ widely between cities, towns, and rural areas.
Pregnant women qualify for payments once their pregnancy reaches six weeks or more. Additionally, the policy requires that the pregnant individual be registered with a healthcare institution early in the pregnancy, establishing a formal medical record. This registration ensures timely medical oversight and helps coordinate service delivery throughout the prenatal period. The program also extends benefits to one parent or guardian of a child under 17, recognizing the ongoing financial responsibilities of caregivers who manage caregiving, schooling, and healthcare needs for minors.
In determining eligibility and benefit levels, the program considers not only wage income but also other financial dimensions. Values from movable and immovable property, as well as earnings from deposit interests, are examined to form a complete picture of the family’s financial standing. The assessment also takes into account circumstances that explain any lack of income among household members who are capable of earning, such as health issues, unemployment gaps, or caregiving duties. This approach aims to prevent misclassification and ensure that support reaches families genuinely in need, while allowing for a nuanced understanding of family economics beyond simple income figures.
The size of the universal allowance is calibrated to the family’s financial situation and can amount to 50 percent, 75 percent, or 100 percent of the regional subsistence minimum. These graduated levels provide flexibility to account for varying degrees of hardship and to encourage families toward greater stability as incomes and regional costs shift. The tiered structure also acknowledges that some households require stronger support to cover essentials like housing, food, clothing, and healthcare, while others may have modest needs that still warrant helping hands during pregnancy and child-rearing years.
There has been debate about increasing the level of aid for pregnant women to the subsistence minimum, a concept previously discussed within Russia’s policy circles. Sergey Rybalchenko, who chairs the RF OP Commission for Demography, Protection of the Family, Children and Traditional Family Values, has noted that while a single allowance has been approved, the framework remains anchored in principles of need and adequacy rather than a guaranteed universal payout. The conversation reflects broader tensions between targeted support and universal programs, with policymakers weighing fiscal sustainability against the goal of reducing poverty and improving maternal and child outcomes. These discussions indicate an evolving policy landscape where future steps could include adjustments to eligibility, payment rates, and the mechanism that evaluates family well-being across regions.