Pension Increases in October and Beyond Are Defined by Pension Type and Eligibility
An announced shift in October will not impact World War II veterans, blockade survivors, or pensioners who are disabled or surviving. Yaroslav Nilov, the chair of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs, shared this assessment with socialbites.ca. The plan indicates that in October, payments for military retirees and similar categories will see a change, with further indexation scheduled for next January and April.
Nilov explained that the October increase will primarily benefit military retirees because their indexation follows a distinct procedure tied to salary growth. The indexing for military pensions will extend beyond those paid through the Ministry of Defense and will cover all law enforcement agencies. The October 1 start date applies to these groups, and this adjustment will not affect those who receive insurance, social, or state pensions.
According to Nilov, the insurance pension indexation is planned to begin on January 1 of the following year. From February 1, benefits and maternity capital funds will be adjusted. Then, from April 1, social pensions will be indexed as well.
Nilov clarified that an insurance pension is issued to citizens who have been insured at least once in the Pension Fund. When an insured event occurs, a pension is granted. The insured events include losing a breadwinner, disability, or reaching retirement age. In contrast, social pensions can also be awarded after the loss of a breadwinner. For instance, a child who lost a parent and never worked or was never insured can receive a social pension. A disabled person who has never worked is eligible for a social disability pension, and someone who has not worked but has reached retirement age may qualify for a social pension. In the World War II veteran category, veterans and front-line workers can receive both insurance and social pensions, Nilov noted.
Previously it was reported that military retirees in Russia would see a 10.5 percent increase on October 1, 2023. This group includes former employees of agencies such as the FSB, FSO, Foreign Intelligence Service, Investigative Committee, the FSIN, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian Guard, the Federal Drug Control Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Fire Service, and the Federal Customs Service. In total, more than 3 million Russians would be affected by these pension increases, according to the government at the time.
Earlier reports also indicated the government submitted a plan to increase military pensions by 4.5 percent starting October 1, 2024.
Note for readers: the information above reflects statements made by Nilov and officials at the time of publication and may be updated as policy details evolve. Attribution: socialbites.ca