In Russia, various types of assistance are provided for certain social groups of the population. Such citizens can apply for financial payments, various discounts, subsidies and benefits. Contract employees are one such category of persons who have special rights to various preferences on behalf of the state.
Last year, certain changes were made to the current legislative acts that affected this particular category of beneficiaries, as well as their families. Many military personnel are interested in whether such changes can be expected in 2021 and what they may involve. Let's consider issues related to what benefits contract soldiers are entitled to and on what basis various types of assistance are provided.
The right to receive housing and housing subsidies
Military contractors can receive service-type housing. The living space can be used not only by the military man himself, but also by members of his family.
It is legally established that military personnel must receive housing at their place of service within 3 months from the date of relocation. The premises are provided in the city or village where the military unit is located.
Expert opinion
Davydov Dmitry Stanislavovich
Deputy Head of the Military Commissariat
If a contract worker has more than 3 children in a family, then housing should be allocated out of turn. When there is no living space on the territory of a settlement, it is provided in a nearby settlement.
Military personnel who signed a contract before 1998 can turn to the state for help in purchasing housing. Funds are allocated as subsidies and can only be spent for strictly targeted purposes. Money is provided only if several conditions are met:
- the citizen’s family must be recognized as in need of improved living conditions;
- The service life must be at least 20 years.
The funds are allocated from the state fund, and contract workers receive them without waiting in line. Until 2015, such citizens were in the same queue as other beneficiaries, but today there is a separate register for them.
Features of granting the right to residential premises
Military personnel serving under contract have the opportunity to obtain service-type housing and live in it with members of their families.
In such a situation, the legislative acts of the Russian Federation stipulate the following: an apartment or house is issued no later than 90 days from the date of transfer to a new work place. The allocation of an apartment or private house is carried out in the region where the military unit itself is located.
If a serviceman has a large family, housing is provided without a waiting list. If the region in question, the location of the unit, does not have the necessary living quarters, it is found in the closest region.
Medical and educational benefits
Military personnel can take advantage of benefits when providing medical care at their place of residence. Services are provided free of charge, including various surgical operations.
When using the benefit, it is important to remember that treatment must be carried out within the country. If necessary, treatment abroad, medical care is provided on a general basis. On the day of blood donation, contract soldiers are relieved of their immediate duties. In addition, employees can take another day off after taking tests.
Educational benefits consist of providing contract soldiers with the opportunity to receive free education in higher and secondary civilian institutions on a full-time or part-time basis, provided that the period of service on a contract basis is no more than three years. This right is not granted to cadets of military universities.
Severance pay
Upon completion of contract service, the employee may refuse to enter into a new agreement and may receive special severance pay. The amount of financial assistance depends on the length of military service:
- with up to 20 years of experience, two official salaries are paid;
- if the term is over 20 years, then the contract employee receives 7 salaries.
If there are no reasons for the employee’s dismissal from the army, then he will be provided with monetary compensation.
Conditions of retirement
A special retirement procedure has been established for military personnel. You can become a pensioner in two ways:
- reaching the age of 45 years;
- becoming incapacitated.
When retiring by age, additional length of service requirements must be met. The service member must meet one of the following criteria:
- have 20 or more years of military service;
- have a total work experience of at least 25 years, of which 12.5 years are in military service.
Loss of health is the basis for calculating a pension regardless of length of service. However, the period of acquisition of disability is taken into account. This must occur directly during service or within 3 months after dismissal. Also acceptable are cases where disability becomes a consequence of an injury or illness acquired during the period of service.
When calculating a pension, the amount of salary paid during military service is taken into account. The pension is assigned in an amount of at least 50% of the previously received amount. Additionally, bonuses may be awarded for participation in hostilities, disability, having dependents, and exceeding the minimum required length of service.
Free travel and tax breaks
In addition to the listed privileges, a citizen can count on free travel to the place of service, as well as when sent on business trips. Additionally, a citizen can register a container for transporting things up to 20 tons.
For contract workers in the Far North, reimbursement of expenses for travel to the vacation spot of all family members is provided.
If a military man uses his own vehicle for official purposes, he has the right to receive compensation for expenses. For example, money for gasoline is reimbursed. The condition for disbursement of funds is the submission of checks. Since last year, the military has not paid property and land taxes.
Right of way
The list of rights in this area is as follows:
- The right to travel free of charge to a place of work at the time of relocation, to free travel on business trips, as well as for the purpose of treatment. If a citizen is to be transferred to a new work place, he is given a container so that he can transport things up to 20 tons.
- Those who are serving in the Far North have the right to free travel to and from vacation spots - not only for themselves, but also for their entire family.
- If a citizen uses his own transport for business purposes, he has the right to compensation for expenses. Let's say he has to pay for gas. The basis for issuing a compensation payment is a document proving the use of a personal car for business purposes.
Benefits for families of contract workers
Families of contract workers can also enjoy a number of preferences:
- the spouse has the right to apply for an increased amount of child benefit;
- in addition to a one-time benefit for the birth of a baby, military spouses have the right to receive payments, the amount of which is determined individually for each region and region;
- children of contract workers are assigned to kindergarten and school without a waiting list, and compensation for the child’s attendance at a preschool institution is 80-90%;
- family members can travel to and from their vacation destinations throughout the country every year without paying. Holidays abroad are not provided.
This is important to know: Benefits for participants in combat operations in Chechnya
Family benefits
The family of a contract soldier can also count on a number of benefits. Thus, a citizen’s parents have the right not to pay utility bills for him as long as the contract is in effect. This measure is intended to save citizens money, since in fact the military personnel do not live at their place of registration and do not use public services.
The main document for receiving benefits is an extract from the military registration and enlistment office or from the unit where the citizen “works”.
Privileges of wives and children
Spouses of military personnel have a priority right to work in the unit where the spouse works under a contract. However, to obtain this right, a woman must have the necessary education or training.
Children and their rights
Children of a contract employee have a priority right to enroll in a preschool or school institution at the parent’s place of service. No institution has the right to refuse this.
Child benefits
Spouses of military personnel under contract receive increased cash child benefits, as well as benefits for pregnancy and maternity. In addition, the right to go to a medical institution free of charge remains for the entire family of a contract citizen.
The amount of benefits for pregnancy, maternity and child benefits are established in each region separately , so you should find out about the relevance in the Department of Social Protection of the Population at your location.
Compensation for housing and communal services
Families of contract military personnel can count on reimbursement of utility bills. Thus, federal legislation establishes compensation in the amount of 50% of the monthly payment.
The funds are returned to the applicant’s bank account, which may be the spouse of the contract employee.
Benefits for contract military personnel: how the state helps the military
Military personnel are a special category of the population that is completely dependent on the state, which is why a well-developed system of social support measures is so important. Contract service for the benefit of the homeland is honorable work, and the state offers those who choose the path of a professional military officer a number of important benefits.
Some of them apply not only to the serviceman himself, but also to members of his family. Let's take a closer look at all the existing benefits for contract military personnel.
What benefits are available to military personnel and their families?
Almost all compensation and preferences for military personnel are enshrined in the Federal Law of May 27, 1998. In addition, adjustments are made to the law twice a year.
To begin with, those who serve under a contract can take advantage of the right to receive a sum of money - the main method of incentive to work. That is, we are talking about mandatory payments – wages.
It includes the following parts: the prescribed salary amount, as well as the salary for the position held by the citizen. Also, a contract serviceman has the right to receive additional money - in other words, bonuses.
Since 2015, citizens have the right to receive financial compensation instead of a bonus day of rest (if they work outside school hours). In addition, the employee has the right to choose what exactly he needs more - a day off or a sum of money.
Federal Law No. 76-FZ “On the status of military personnel”, as amended on July 20, 2018:
Download Federal Law N 76-FZ “On the status of military personnel”, as amended on July 20, 2018 (.pdf)
Housing benefits for military personnel
The most important benefit is the right to free housing
One of the main privileges valid for contract military personnel is the right to free housing from the state. Ownership of apartments is provided to military personnel who have served for 20 years or more.
An officer can also receive housing if he served continuously for at least 10 years and was transferred to the reserve due to injury, health reasons, or after reaching the age limit.
During their service, officers are usually provided with official housing, which allows them to obtain a place to live when transferred from one city to another. A serviceman can obtain his own housing in several ways:
- Natural form of support. The Ministry of Defense controls the construction of apartments and their distribution among military personnel on a first-come, first-served basis; the area standard is established in documents in accordance with the composition of the officer’s family. However, this practice is gradually becoming a thing of the past: new houses are always built slower than the number of people in the queue, so many officers have to wait for years for their apartments. In addition, ready-made housing does not always meet all the requirements, and an officer cannot be dismissed from service before receiving an apartment.
- A more effective option for complying with legal requirements has become the provision of subsidies for the purchase of housing. After a certain period of service, the serviceman independently chooses an apartment with a suitable area according to the standard, and the Ministry of Defense provides the necessary amount for its purchase.
- The third option for providing housing is participation in the savings-mortgage system. Already three years after the start of service, a military man has the right to receive a mortgage on special conditions: a special account is opened to which the state monthly transfers the amount necessary to repay the next installment. Thus, within 20 years the loan is repaid, and the apartment finally becomes the property of the serviceman.
The advantage of the savings-mortgage system is that now you can get your own home within three years after concluding a contract, and not after 20 years. In addition, a military mortgage does not limit an officer in choosing a place to buy housing; everything depends only on its cost.
Features of providing a subsidy for the purchase of residential premises
Citizens who are in military service and signed an agreement before 1998 can exercise their right to government support to purchase home ownership.
In this situation, support is the allocation of money for the purchase of any residential premises - be it an apartment, a house or a building. This measure is offered only to families in need.
If the total period of service of a person exceeds 20 years, he has the right to receive a subsidy for the purchase or construction process of housing.
An interesting point: you can get housing from the federal fund without waiting in line. If before 2015, military personnel had to stand in line in the same way as civilian families, now the provision of residential premises for this category of citizens is carried out separately.
Are there any benefits for conscripts?
Conscripts also have the right to benefits
Expert opinion
Davydov Dmitry Stanislavovich
Deputy Head of the Military Commissariat
The army provides a certain list of benefits not only to those who serve under a contract, but also to conscripts, despite a significant reduction in the length of conscription service. Conscripts are granted the following rights:
- Accounting for length of service in a ratio of 2 to 1. This means that each day of service in the army is taken into account in the length of service as 2 days of work.
- Free medicines and free medical care during military service, assistance is provided in departmental medical institutions. In addition, a conscript can be sent for treatment to a hospital or sanatorium free of charge according to the testimony of a special commission. In addition, soldiers are paid compensation in the amount of 400 rubles.
- A conscript soldier who has served has the right to free reinstatement at a university or technical school if he was called up during training. If a soldier has a higher education, he can be sent to qualifying courses free of charge.
- A conscript has the right to travel free of charge on any transport to the place of service and to the place of vacation; transport is also paid for when returning from service.
- Conscripts can send any parcels with things at the expense of the state.
The conscript must know his rights: all benefits and privileges are reflected in the Law, and the leadership of a particular unit is obliged to ensure their compliance. If a conscript is denied the exercise of a particular right, he has the right to complain to a higher command.
Are there any changes planned for this year?
Significant adjustments to the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation are not yet expected - the benefits will remain the same.
Despite this, the state still has the right to establish new benefits, as well as additional monetary compensation for the category of citizens we are considering.
Thus, from our article you learned about the latest news about benefits for military personnel. We hope that the information was useful to you and you were able to learn something new and useful for yourself.
Rights of military personnel in reserve and relatives of military personnel
Not only military personnel, but also their family members are entitled to benefits
If a serviceman is transferred to the reserve due to staff reduction, or he reaches the age limit for being in service, the state is obliged to provide several additional benefits.
Officers transferred to the reserve acquire the right to be treated in departmental health care institutions, as well as to be registered with them; travel to their place of permanent residence and container transportation of personal belongings of seven servicemen is paid for by the state.
Military pensioners receive an annual right to free travel to the place of sanatorium treatment, and one accompanying person also receives this right. Vouchers to sanatoriums and resort areas are provided with significant benefits.
The law also provides a certain list of benefits and privileges for family members of a military serviceman, since they, to a certain extent, share with him the hardships of military service. So, if an officer’s spouse cannot find a job for herself in a new city after moving, she has the right to be included in her work experience for the period of living with a military personnel; the total duration of additional work experience does not exceed 5 years.
The size of living quarters provided by the state also depends on the composition of the military personnel’s family. The standard living space per person is 18 square meters, so the larger the family, the more spacious the resulting housing will be.
Children of contract military personnel are given the right to be enrolled without a waiting list in kindergartens at their place of residence.
Family members receive free medical care in the same departmental institutions.
If a serviceman died during hostilities, then his parents, wives and children retain the right to reside in official premises. In addition, they are given the right to preferential payment for utilities, travel benefits and the right to preferential treatment in sanatoriums and resort areas.
This is important to know: Is civilian experience included in military service?
The list of benefits for the family of military personnel can be expanded if he is posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia or given any other state awards.
Thus, the state provides a system of benefits to all contract military personnel, conscripts, as well as military pensioners and officers transferred to the reserve due to staff reductions.
About social guarantees for military personnel - in the video:
What other benefits can be provided to those who serve under contract?
Fixed-term service is 1 year. But these military personnel are also entitled to a variety of categories of benefits. They can easily use all of them.
To begin with, a citizen can receive medications and medical care free of charge for the entire period of his service. If a person needs inpatient treatment, it will also be provided free of charge - even when the treatment is carried out in another locality (that is, not in a military unit). Benefits for spa treatment are also provided.
A soldier in military conscription service can send mail and personal belongings thanks to the federal budget.
Who is eligible to claim benefits?
Not only the military themselves, but also their family members can count on benefits. Among the relatives who can receive privileges are:
- spouses;
- children under 18 years of age (or up to 23 years of age if they are full-time students at a university);
- any persons who are supported at the expense of the defender of the fatherland.
Benefits for military personnel under contract
Contractors have the right to count on:
- providing them and their family with living quarters for the entire period of the contract (with permission for the military to live together with his family);
- receiving his own housing out of turn if his family is recognized as having many children;
- transfer to the military’s personal account of the “lift” amount that is necessary to cover the costs of moving (in the amount of 25% of the employee’s salary in terms of each family member);
- the opportunity to receive a free education at any university in the Russian Federation if you have already served in the military for 3 years (with the provision of a separate educational leave), as well as permission to acquire any civilian profession (with payment for retraining at state expense);
- transfer of a subsidy for the purchase of housing for a military man, the amount of which will be calculated based on the length of service and the status of the military man (whether he needs housing or not).
The state will reimburse expenses incurred by the military for travel by road, passenger and rail transport. Compensation also applies to the costs of transporting property by land weighing up to 20 tons.
Free travel is provided on all types of public transport - both during vacation and during business trips, treatment and rehabilitation. For the use of personal transport on duty, they receive compensation for fuel costs.
Also, a length of service of 10 years prohibits the dismissal of a citizen who is on the waiting list for housing and whose health condition has deteriorated without his consent. He can be fired only after he has been provided with housing.
To confirm expenses, the defender of the homeland must present documents confirming payment for services. If public transport was used, a ticket will be issued. In the case of transportation by personal vehicle, the citizen must provide receipts indicating payment for gasoline at gas stations.
They can resign only after voluntarily submitting the appropriate application, after which the former military man will be able to receive a one-time severance pay. Its size is determined based on length of service and rank.
Conscript service
Conscripts are provided with the following preferences:
- retention of the employee's job for a period of 1 year and 3 months (the last 3 months following the end of conscription);
- sending parcels with personal belongings of an employee is carried out at the expense of the department;
- length of service is equal to double the length of service received in civilian life, i.e. each day of service is counted as 2 working days;
- family members will be able to apply for a discount on housing and utility bills and the maintenance of children in preschool institutions;
- if the conscript already had a higher education, then at the end of his service he will be able to take advanced training courses out of turn;
- providing a soldier's pregnant wife with an allowance during his service;
- receiving free legal assistance if necessary;
- providing conscripts with compulsory life and health insurance, so that if they are injured during service, they will be able to receive free medical care and travel to a medical facility;
- the right to reinstatement in the educational institution in which the employee was enrolled before conscription;
- payment for returning a person home or going on short-term leave (money is accrued from the budget of the Ministry of Defense);
During the entire period of military service, the conscript himself and his relatives can claim benefits.
Benefits for military personnel in reserve and retirement
After dismissal and retirement of a military man, he will be able to receive:
- social and financial assistance;
- exemption from paying for using a landline telephone;
- preferential taxation for the employee's vehicles and land;
- the right to a free vacation package to a sanatorium and travel to your destination (for yourself and 1 accompanying person), plus unpaid treatment in departmental medical institutions;
- the opportunity not to pay for dental prosthetics (1 time).
The pension they receive is also indexed separately.
Rights and benefits of relatives of military personnel
The family will be able to receive compensation for rented housing in the amount of up to 50%. The benefits of military wives are also higher than those of other categories of mothers.
Military children can be enrolled in educational institutions (schools, preschools, universities and technical schools) without a waiting list.
For the birth of children, the mother receives a subsidy and monthly benefits. The payment is made by decision of the authorities of the locality where the military man works.
Since military wives often cannot get a permanent job, their length of service required to receive a pension will include the period of living with their husband for up to 5 years.
This is important to know: Amount of bonus for length of service
Large families
Families with 3 or more children are entitled (subject to appropriate provisions in regional regulations):
- 30% discount on utility bills, as well as compensation for the purchase of fuel for heating a private home;
- free provision of necessary medicines to children under 6 years of age;
- extraordinary provision of living space;
- exemption from paying for travel on municipal transport;
- free meals for the child at school and provision of the child with school and sports uniforms, as well as free visits for children to museums and other cultural places (once a month).
Widows
The first thing that the wives of a deceased military man can count on is receiving an old-age pension. The payment is:
- 50% of the allowance received by the husband during his lifetime if death occurred due to injuries during service;
- 40% of the security if death occurred after the employee acquired a disease while the military man was performing his official duties.
In addition, they have the right to:
- benefits for the loss of a breadwinner (if she was recognized as disabled or was supported by him before the death of her husband);
- additional payment for the wife's maintenance of young children, brothers and sisters of the deceased under the age of 14 years.
Additional benefits for contract workers
Benefits for contract servicemen are a good incentive!
According to the Law on the Status of Military Personnel, contract soldiers are provided with a number of additional benefits and privileges, which are state compensation for protecting the security of the country. Main benefits for contract workers:
- Payment of monetary compensation for service on weekends during the preparation of any events or as otherwise necessary. In this case, the military is paid money in exchange for additional free days.
- Increasing the duration of leave in accordance with the length of service. Every 5 years, 5 days are added, and when serving in the Far North, 15 days are added.
- The right to receive free medical care in special departmental health care institutions.
- Payment of allowances upon arrival at a new duty station; money is paid to the military personnel themselves and members of their families. In addition, the officer himself and his family members are guaranteed payment for travel to the place of duty or to the place of vacation.
- Three years after entering service under a contract, military personnel are given the right to free higher and secondary specialized education; they can undergo training at any state university or technical school. As a rule, officers who wish to master a useful specialty for service are sent for training.
- Shortened retirement period. When serving under a contract, it is only 20 years. If a military man leaves after 20 years of service or more, he receives severance pay, the amount of which is 7 salaries. If the term is less than 20 years, then the severance pay is 2 salaries.
In addition, military personnel receive monetary compensation for the use of a personal car for official purposes, and during business trips they are given the right to free use of any transport.
Another important benefit is the provision of official housing for the entire period of service. By law, a military family cannot be evicted if the serviceman did not receive permanent housing when leaving service after 20 years.
All these benefits significantly increase the attractiveness of contract service for those who are ready to devote their lives to defending their homeland. Over the past few years, there has been a broad campaign to increase the prestige of the army and improve conditions for military personnel. Perhaps, in the near future, those who want to join the contract service will be provided with additional privileges.
Types and amount of benefits provided
All preferences provided by the state can be divided into:
- financial benefits and surcharges;
- advancement in the queue for housing and other social services;
- preferential conditions for retirement.
Tax
While the employee is listed in the ranks of the RF Armed Forces, he is completely exempt from any tax fees (Article 407 of the Tax Code). After completing his service, he will be able to receive tax breaks.
For housing and communal services payments
A family that has received departmental housing for use is exempt from paying rent (for renting housing).
Education
Expert opinion
Davydov Dmitry Stanislavovich
Deputy Head of the Military Commissariat
Conscripts, as already mentioned, will be able to re-enter the educational institution where they studied before joining the army. Moreover, they can do this without passing exams by returning to the same course.
Housing
Housing issued to a soldier and his family for use depends on the number of cohabitants. A military man living alone will be provided with a place in a dormitory, a communal apartment, or will be allocated a separate 1-room apartment.
Family military personnel will be able to move as a whole 3 months after the start of service.
Let us note that the provision of new living space to a military family is provided in accordance with the established standards of square footage for the number of people. There should be 18 square meters per person. m.
Medical care
Most of the expensive medical services for military personnel whose health has deteriorated during their service are provided free of charge. The same right applies to their family members. The list of available medical services includes:
- receiving medications prescribed by your doctor;
- visiting sanatorium-resort institutions;
- provision of necessary products - prostheses, crutches, strollers, etc.
Plus, defenders of the homeland can undergo treatment in departmental medical institutions.
Right to rest
All working citizens have the right to 1 paid vacation per year. But for the military, its duration depends on length of service:
- for persons with 10 years of experience it is 30 days;
- for employees who have worked for 20 years in the RF Armed Forces, the vacation will last 45 days.
Directions
The soldier and his family can get to the place of duty at the expense of the Russian Ministry of Defense. They can do this for free by any land or air transport.
Payment of severance pay
As already mentioned, upon completion of work, the soldier has the right to receive a lump sum payment. Its size depends on the service life:
- for work up to 20 years, a payment equal to 2 official salaries is provided;
- for service longer than 20 years, an amount equal to 7 salaries is paid.
Upon retirement
Military personnel who have already retired will be able to receive:
- housing from the state in any region of the Russian Federation;
- land for building your own house without a queue;
- a place in the queue for the issuance of living space through the Ministry of Defense (if he did not use the above options).
The former officer's allowance must be at least 50% of the allowance he received during his service. It is further supplemented by various allowances for:
- experience and rank;
- military awards;
- received injuries and injuries.
The maximum length of service bonus is now equal to the full salary. An increase of 5-30% was given for existing qualifications.
The rest period itself is carried out according to certain conditions, namely, if there is 20 years of military service or 25 years of total work experience, half of which was spent working in the RF Armed Forces.
Benefits for military personnel and their families in 2021
If you did not find the answer to your question about benefits for military personnel and their families in 2021 in this article, ask it, as well as other questions you are interested in, to our lawyers (consultation is free):
You can get free legal assistance by calling one of the following numbers: 8 (800) 555-67-55 ext.
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Registration procedure
The procedure is carried out as follows;
- The person who wishes collects the necessary documents and submits them to the department responsible for providing the benefit;
- The request is considered for some time, after which the applicant is notified of the decision;
- If the application is approved, the citizen will be able to take advantage of the benefit within the period specified in the notice.
Papers are submitted to government departments located at the place of residence of the applicant.
Benefits and queuing for housing are carried out at social welfare departments. Tax breaks are issued to the Federal Tax Service at the place of residence. Medical care is provided in departmental institutions. Compensation can be obtained at the appropriate departments at the military personnel’s place of work.
Let's summarize. Persons serving in the ranks of the RF Armed Forces have the right to count on diverse support from the state. They are recognized at the legislative level as a special social class entitled to many privileges aimed at improving their living conditions.
Housing
At the new duty station, military personnel and their families are provided with free official housing for a period not exceeding 3 months.
Large families raising 3 or more children are provided with a service apartment on a priority basis. This type of housing is not provided with ownership rights, and military personnel are required to leave it after the end of the contract or upon transfer to service in another region. Persons who entered into a contract before 1998 have the right to count on state subsidies for the purchase of housing or its independent construction. This right can be exercised only if there is no property of one’s own or if it does not meet the standard living space per person of 18 m2. Based on these standards, as well as the average market price for real estate, the state provides partial financing for the purchase or construction of housing for military personnel.
Another way to receive assistance in purchasing housing is the military savings and mortgage system (NIS). Citizens who entered into a contract after 01/01/2005 have the right to participate in it. The point is that for 3 years after the serviceman is included in the NIS register, contributions from the federal budget are received into his account. In 2020, their size will be 268,465.60 rubles. The amount accumulated over 3 years can be used as a down payment for the purchase of mortgage housing. Further, until the military personnel reaches 45 years of age or until their dismissal, home loan payments are made by the state.