Amendments in legislation in the field of social policy: results of the spring session 2023

Increasing the size of retirement pensions and child benefits

The minimum amount of old-age pensions in Pridnestrovie has increased by 5% since February 1. The financial balances formed at the beginning of the year were used for the increase. Changes were made to the laws on the republican budget for 2023, “On the Unified State Social Insurance Fund” and “On State Benefits for Citizens with Children”.

Child benefits have increased by 10% since February 1, 2023.

The monthly allowance for a child, which low-income families receive, is 34.1 minimum wages (330 rubles 77 kopecks). This allowance is paid to families with many children, single mothers, recipients of disability pensions and other categories prescribed in the law “On State Benefits to Citizens with Children”, and whose average family income is less than the subsistence level.

The monthly allowance for caring for a child up to the age of 2 years has increased from 110 minimum wages to 121 minimum wages and now amounts to 1173 rubles 70 kop. We are talking about mothers, fathers or guardians who are subject to state compulsory social insurance or have ceased their activities as individual entrepreneurs, and other categories prescribed by law.

For those who received an allowance for caring for a child under 2 years of age in the amount of 80 minimum wages, the amount increased to 88 minimum wages (853 rubles 60 kopecks) from February 1. Such a payment applies to non-working and non-student mothers and those who study in absentia at universities and technical schools.

The one-time allowance for the birth (adoption) of a child increased from 220 minimum wages to 242 minimum wages and amounted to 2347 rubles. It is worth noting that such a one-time allowance, according to the law, is paid upon adoption of a child under the age of 14 inclusive. For the first child, the additional amount to the basic allowance is 3346.20 rubles (5693 rubles 60 kopecks totally); for the second and subsequent children - 4006.20 rubles (total 6353 rubles 60 kopecks totally).

New surcharge for workers with wages below the minimum wage

The changes affected the remuneration of employees of budgetary organizations in the field of education, healthcare, physical culture and sports, social services, social security, culture and art, whose salary is below the minimum wage. They receive another additional payment of 200 rubles from January 2023.

Deadline for payment of pension by proxy

The period for paying pensions by proxy has been extended to 1 year. This period was 3 months previously. The deputies fixed the new norm in the law “On State Pension Provision of Citizens in the PMR” at the request of voters.

A citizen must personally come to the social insurance authority once a year and confirm the fact of registration at the place of residence, according to the new requirements, or a citizen can personally receive a pension once a year. Then the power of attorney document will also be valid. When the power of attorney expires, the pensioner can issue a new power of attorney for the person who will receive his pension.

Such rules apply to all pensioners, including those undergoing inpatient treatment or those who are not in the republic, as well as students receiving a survivor's pension and studying outside of Pridnestrovie.

Expansion of the norms of the law on state subsidies for the purchase of housing

The deputies supported the initiative of the President to expand the categories of recipients of state subsidies for the purchase of housing. Military personnel of the Ministry of State Security and the State Guard Service of the PMR, as well as employees of the tax services of the Ministry of Finance will have the opportunity to receive such a state subsidy from January 2024.

The law "On State Support for Young Families in Acquisition of Housing" was amended with clarifying norms proposed by the deputies of the Committee on Social Protection and Health. According to the requirements prescribed in the law, a state subsidy can be issued if the applied citizen has property in common with other persons, the area of ​​which is less than 12 square meters, or the recipient and the recipient’s wife do not have private housing or housing in common with other persons for 3 years preceding the day of applying for a state subsidy. After the adoption of the amendments proposed by parliamentarians, a citizen will be able to apply for a subsidy for the purchase of housing if he and wife (spouse) did not have private or common property of housing with an area of 12 or more square meters for three years before applying for a subsidy (per 1 member of a young family).

Credit for study in experience: conditions

The Supreme Council clarified the conditions for counting the period of study in the total length of service. The length of service will include when assigning a pension only the period of full-time study at universities, technical schools and colleges, as well as retraining and advanced training courses. The fact of graduation at the same time will need to be confirmed by an appropriate document – a diploma of graduation from an educational institution. The period of part-time study will not be included in the length of service.

Expansion of categories of state support for persons with special needs

People with disabilities of groups I and II, disabled people from childhood of groups I and II and children with disabilities will be able to receive free from the state anti-decubitus mattresses and pillows, chairs with sanitary equipment (1 time in 3 years), receive monthly payments for the purchase of diapers and disposable diapers, urine – and colostomy bags. A certificate from the medical and clinical commission confirming the right to provide them are necessary in order to receive special care products and monthly payment. The PMR Government approved the procedure for assigning payments for special care equipment. The amount of support was determined taking into account the needs of each category. For example, for the purchase of diapers, the amount is from 533 rubles to 727 rubles. 116 rubles are provided for the purchase of disposable diapers. The document extends its effect to legal relations that arose from June 1, 2023.

Compensation for ocular prostheses

Visually impaired people will receive compensation from the state for acquired eye prostheses, starting this year. The amount of the payment will depend on the amount that the disabled person will spend on the purchase of an eye prosthesis. The maximum amount of compensation is 360 minimum wages (3492 rubles) for 1 prosthesis. These figures were suggested based on the average cost of an ocular prosthesis. Compensation will be paid once every 2 years.

Soft loans

The categories of participants in the state program of preferential lending have been expanded. All participants in the military operations to protect the PMR and Afghan soldiers will be able to apply for preferential loans. This right was previously only for participants in the hostilities to protect the PMR and Afghan soldiers who became disabled of I, II or III groups.

According to the plan, from 48 to 80 people could receive a preferential loan last year. However, only 8 citizens applied, and from January to May 2023, not a single loan was issued.

About 60 people will be able to receive preferential loans. They are provided by the Pridnestrovian Savings Bank at 17% per annum according to the state program: 13% is covered by the state and 4% is given by the borrower. Loans are issued for up to 3 years. The maximum loan amount is determined based on the solvency of the potential borrower, but cannot exceed 25 thousand rubles for those who are under 70 years old at the end of the loan agreement, and 15 thousand rubles for those whose age will be from 70 to 75 years at the end of the loan agreement loan agreement. The state program is designed until 2026.

Registration procedure for minors

Parents, guardians and adoptive parents, after they receive documents for the child, are obliged to register it at the place of residence within 60 days. Otherwise, this will be done by the registration and accounting authorities – at the place of residence of the legal representative of the child.

Making a survivor's pension

The procedure for obtaining a survivor's pension has been simplified at the level of the law. Proving the fact of dependence is no longer required, including in court. Adult children whose parents have died will only need to contact the Social Insurance Center and submit the necessary documents. The new rules apply to full-time students under the age of 23 and, without age restrictions, to adults who have become disabled before the age of 18. Prior to the amendments to the legislation, the simplified procedure for obtaining a survivor's pension was valid only for minor children.