How to obtain the status of a low-income family: grounds, necessary documents, procedure

What does “poor family” mean in the Russian Federation?

Along with this term, a related concept is used - low-income single citizens and families, who also have the right to participate in state social support programs. Such categories of citizens are usually called those in need. This term refers to a low level of wealth for a family whose average per capita income is below the subsistence level established in a separate subject of the Russian Federation.

Every year, in each subject of the federation, a living wage is established, which is a guideline for the normal living of one citizen. If the income (in all forms) of a citizen is below this limit, then he has the right to receive state social support. For these purposes, the country has a system of federal and municipal legislation.

Privileges

Help from the regional budget is usually a fairly small amount, but is still a good help for a low-income family. These conditions apply only to each specific area.

However, you need to know that at the federal level you are entitled to mandatory benefits. Low-income citizens can qualify for housing subsidies, a revision of the percentage of tax deductions or free legal assistance. The state also provides support to such categories of people as internally displaced persons and refugees.

Providing housing to low-income citizens is possible under the terms of a social tenancy agreement. This program does not work in all regions, and where it does exist, the pace of construction of suitable housing is very slow, since funding mainly comes from the local budget.

What do low-income families deserve?

State social support is provided to provide all needy citizens of the Russian Federation with a normal standard of living. This support is expressed in the following forms:

• Access to free social services - designed for persons specified in Art. 6.1 178-FZ (low-income families are not included in the list of persons).
• State social assistance is intended for persons who, for reasons beyond their control, do not have an income sufficient for normal living (poor family).

A set of free social services is provided by the Russian Federation. Assistance to low-income families is provided from the budget of the subject of the federation, which establishes the initial value - the subsistence level.

Who can apply

In our state, in order to obtain the status of “poor”, citizens must provide the appropriate organization with all the data on their monthly cash receipts; in calculations, this criterion will be the main, but not the only one. The level of average per capita income should not exceed the minimum level for the country. The fact that family members live together, the presence of children, disabled people or other dependents is also taken into account.

To understand exactly who belongs to low-income citizens, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in more detail with the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation. They indicate that this category of the population may include:

• spouses;
• adoptive parents and adopted children;
• guardians and their wards;
• stepfathers, stepdaughters, stepsons;
• grandchildren, grandmothers, parents, children;
• single-parent families.

When considering an application, specialists also take into account the legality of providing such a service. Thus, persons who deliberately avoid work, drink and lead an immoral lifestyle cannot be recognized as in need of social assistance.

Types of state social assistance

Such measures to support the poor are primarily expressed in cash payments - social benefits, subsidies, and other types. This helps those in need to independently distribute funds according to their needs.

The second type of assistance is expressed in kind support - fuel, medicines, clothing, shoes, food, and so on. The main purpose of social assistance to low-income families is to increase the standard of living of citizens to a subsistence level.

You can find out what low-income families in a constituent entity of the Russian Federation are entitled to, including the amount of cash benefits, from the social protection authorities. Here we are required to provide background information to all applicants.

Nuances when receiving cash payments

Assistance to the poor is aimed at improving the standard of living of this category of citizens, reducing social inequality and increasing the availability of services for every person in need. Moreover, material support is provided both at the regional and federal levels.

Each subject of the Russian Federation sets its own amounts of benefits and subsidies; these figures can be found in more detail on the official websites of social protection of the population or by directly contacting the structure. It is worth understanding that all revenues are possible from tax deductions, so in difficult economic conditions there is a possibility of a temporary cessation of payments or a reduction in material support.

The procedure for assigning social assistance

In order for a family or a citizen living alone to be recognized as poor and in need of state social assistance, they must document the fact of their difficult financial situation. In each case, the decision is made by the social protection authority operating at the place of residence or stay of citizens.

The decision on appointment or refusal is made by the local social protection authority. To do this, an applicant for assistance from the state must submit an application (on his own behalf or on behalf of the entire family). Such an application is submitted:

• To the social protection authorities directly.
• Through the multifunctional public services center.

The application indicates information about the income of the applicant and all other family members, about the real estate owned, and about receipt of income in kind. If by this time the family (or its individual member) is already receiving any type of social assistance, this information must be indicated in the application. Additional documentation confirming the financial situation of the applicant/family is attached to the application.

Consequently, it is possible to find out what a low-income family in a particular region can count on only through local social assistance authorities. The MFC will only accept documents, without providing background information.

How long does it take to process an application?

In accordance with Art. 8 178-FZ, regardless of the form of application, a decision on it is made within 10 working days from the date of acceptance for processing. An increase in this period is possible if additional verification of the data provided by the applicant is carried out. The maximum period is 30 working days.

The social security authority is obliged to conduct a commission examination of the information. This is done through requests to authorized government bodies. During the survey, the following data is checked:

• Real income of all able-bodied family members - for the last 3 months preceding the application.
• The property mass owned by the family and each of its members individually.
• The fact of receiving or not receiving other types of social assistance.

The decision of the social security authorities is sent to the applicant in writing. The decision must be motivated: if it is a refusal, then the document indicates objective reasons with references to current legislation. At the same time, the applicant retains the right to appeal the decision of the social security authority to higher authorities or to court.

Reasons for refusal to recognize a low-income family

It is important to remember that such issues are the responsibility of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. Consequently, the amount of benefits in Moscow and Novosibirsk will vary. This is explained by different levels of the cost of living, which in the capital, which is logical, is an order of magnitude higher. The grounds for recognizing a family as low-income or for refusing it are the same throughout the country. Among them:

• Providing incomplete or false data on income, family composition, property wealth, and all other information necessary for social security authorities to make a decision.
• Inconsistency of the current financial situation with the grounds for recognizing a family as low-income.
• Failure to comply with the basic requirements - citizenship of the Russian Federation, availability of required documents.
• Receipt of social assistance of a similar type at the time of application.
• Illegal presence on the territory of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

These are the most common grounds for refusing to recognize a family as low-income. Benefits and allowances for low-income families can be one-time or periodic. The benefit is paid until the grounds for assigning it completely disappear.

about the author

Irina Rusanova - higher education at the International East European University in the direction of "Banking". Graduated with honors from the Russian Economic Institute named after G.V. Plekhanov with a major in Finance and Credit. Ten years of experience in leading Russian banks: Alfa-Bank, Renaissance Credit, Home Credit Bank, Delta Credit, ATB, Svyaznoy (closed). He is an analyst and expert of the Brobank service on banking and financial stability. [email protected]

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Comments: 9

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Author of the article Irina Rusanova

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1. Elena
   09/06/2021 at 17:06 Good afternoon! They refused to confirm my status as a low-income family with children. USZN Maryino. Reason for refusal: lack of income in 2021 for mothers, i.e. me. Until April 2021, I was on maternity leave for a child up to 3 years old. The youngest son was born in 1004, 2018. as of 2021 our family is low-income. Is the refusal legal?
   Reply ↓ Anna Popovich
   09/06/2021 at 17:32

   Dear Elena, the refusal is illegal, since you were on parental leave until the child reached the age of 3 years.

   Reply ↓