A member of the State Duma, Vasily Vlasov, addressed Anton Kotyakov, the head of the Ministry of Labour, with a concrete proposal aimed at easing the burdens on families raising children with disabilities. The suggestion involves introducing a monthly payment to support caregivers of disabled children under seven years old, regardless of whether the parent is employed. The proposal was conveyed in a formal letter, as reported by RT. The core idea is simple in its aim: provide financial relief to families who spend substantial time and resources on specialized care for a young child with a disability.
In the text of the appeal, Vlasov explicitly proposed a monthly payment of 10,000 rubles to assist with the day-to-day needs of caring for a disabled child under seven. The request underscores a shift from income-based eligibility to a universal approach for this particular family situation, reflecting concern for parents who may be juggling caregiving with work or who are dedicated exclusively to caregiving at home. The author notes that this payment would be available regardless of whether a parent is currently employed, highlighting the substantial time, attention, and resources required by such caregiving responsibilities.
The deputy also pointed out a current barrier: existing conditions for receiving these payments often require that the caregiver be not employed in parallel. This creates a narrow window of eligibility and excludes several common caregiving arrangements. Vlasov argued that practical scenarios, including the single-parent family model or situations where a parent works from home while caring for a child, should be taken into account more fully when determining eligibility. The emphasis is on recognizing the real-life complexities faced by families and ensuring that policy supports those who need it most, not just those who fit a strict employment criterion.
In related remarks, Sergei Chirkov, a former chairman of the Pension and Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, noted that the social fund has been active in registering beneficiaries in the newly integrated regions since March. He stated that the fund has enrolled around 30,000 pensioners in those areas over this period. This context underscores ongoing efforts within the social protection system to adapt benefits and services to evolving regional needs, even as lawmakers discuss expanding or refining programs that support families with young children who have disabilities. The broader conversation reflects a continuing concern about how social safety nets can better accommodate caregivers who face demanding caregiving duties and varying employment arrangements, all while aiming to improve the well-being of disabled children and their families, as reported by RT.