How does the state financially support single mothers?
It is impossible to find out what payments a single mother is entitled to from just one regulatory legal act (LLA).
“Preferential” and “compensatory” norms are contained in both federal, regional and local regulations. A single mother can count on support from the state:
- on a general basis (benefits and payments due to all mothers in Russia);
- according to additional criteria (if he confirms his preferential status: as a single mother, large or low-income family, etc.).
A single mother receives the main types of benefits at her place of work (maternity and child benefits). Here, the status of a single mother does not give special privileges - all women have equal rights to receive them.
To find out whether a single mother can count on additional state support, she should contact the local administration or social security authority at her place of residence.
Since 2021, social support for citizens is provided using criteria of need. The principle of “a little bit for all benefit categories” was replaced with targeted social support (only for citizens in real need). This approach is also applied when providing benefits and benefits to single mothers in 2021.
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Maternity payments and child benefits for a single mother
What payments are due to a single mother in 2021 under federal law? The types of benefits to which she is entitled (on a common basis with other citizens with children) are listed in Art. 3 of the Law “On State Benefits for Citizens with Children” dated May 19, 1995 No. 81-FZ.
The figure below shows the types of benefits for all expectant mothers (before the birth of the child) and after the birth of the baby:
The amount of benefit for a single mother in 2021 depends on her average earnings over the previous two years or on the minimum wage. To receive benefits you need to contact your employer. He will transfer the necessary documents and information to the FSS, which will pay the money. A non-working mother should contact the social security authorities for benefits.
We tell you more about what benefits each mother is entitled to at the birth of children in the materials of the section “Children’s benefits in 2021 - 2021 (amount, required documents)”.
Find out about the nuances of assigning, calculating and paying maternity benefits from the articles in our special section.
We will tell you further what other advantages, privileges, compensations and benefits exist for single mothers in 2021.
What to do if refused?
Refusal to assign a particular benefit may occur on the following grounds:
- No right to government assistance.
- Providing an incomplete package of documents.
- Submission of false information.
- Deprivation or restriction of parental rights and transfer of the child to guardianship authorities.
If the mother does not agree with the rejection of the application , she can protest the official refusal in court and, at the same time, appeal to the prosecutor’s office about illegal actions, if any.
Free dairy kitchen: how accessible is it for a single mother?
The opportunity to receive free dairy products at the dairy kitchen is one of the social support measures. Not everyone can enjoy this privilege. The list of persons, standards for issuing special food, as well as the list of organizations supplying dairy products for dairy kitchens are determined by local authorities.
Recipients of special food usually include children from large and low-income families, bottle-fed babies, disabled children and other categories of people in need. Local authorities can also grant pregnant and nursing mothers the right to receive special food.
If a single mother in her region of residence falls into these categories, she must not only confirm her right to special food (for example, document the status of a low-income family), but also regularly update her prescription at the medical institution where the baby is registered.
Thus, not all single mothers can count on free food in a dairy kitchen, and the process of obtaining the right to a dairy kitchen is quite labor-intensive. But there are also many benefits from receiving such government support: children receive high-quality, varied and fresh food, and mothers can use the saved funds for other priority needs for the child.
Adoption benefits
Not only two-parent families, but in some cases also Russian women without a husband can count on adopting a child. If a woman took a child from an orphanage, she will receive the same preferences and benefits as a single mother. But, since such women often do not belong to low-income families, this category of families does not qualify for relief.
Exceptions arise if the child’s parents have died, and the child is given up for adoption to not very wealthy or elderly relatives.
Advantages of a single mother when registering a child for kindergarten
What benefit does a single mother receive when her child enters a preschool institution?
A single mother has the right to count on priority enrollment of her child in the group. To resolve this issue, you must contact the administration of the preschool institution directly. The status of a single mother allows you to speed up the process of getting your child into kindergarten if there are no other preferential applicants (for example, children from large or low-income families). If there is also a queue among beneficiaries, it will not be possible to “jump” over it.
A single mother can also count on compensation for part of the monthly parental payment (clause 5 of Article 65 of the Law “On Education in the Russian Federation” dated December 29, 2012 No. 273-FZ).
The amount of such compensation is established by regional authorities taking into account the criterion of need, but not less than:
- 20% of the SRRP (average parental payment) - for the first child;
- 50% of the SRRP for the second child;
- 70% of the SRRP is for the third and subsequent children.
A single mother will not be able to use the above privileges if we are talking about a commercial kindergarten. Only state, municipal or departmental preschool institutions can reduce parental fees.
Thus, in 2021, child benefits for a single mother sending her child to kindergarten are not provided for by law. But this category of mothers can count on certain privileges.
The child went to school: what kind of government support can a single mother count on?
When a child goes to school, the mother has more costly tasks: where can she get additional funds to buy a school uniform, can her child eat in the school canteen for free, and what kind of benefit can a single mother receive in 2021 in connection with such expenses?
Federal legislation does not provide for special monthly “school” benefits for a single mother in 2021, which will help her provide decent support for her child while studying. We can only count on the support of local authorities.
Municipalities define the categories of those in need in different ways (usually large and low-income families, sometimes single mothers), and also set the amounts of benefits and compensation in their own way based on budgetary capabilities.
Funds are allocated:
- for the purchase of stationery and other school supplies;
- two hot meals a day for children in school canteens;
- partial compensation of tuition fees in art and music schools (up to 30%);
- discounted vacation vouchers (once every 2 years);
- other benefits and compensation.
Regional regulations for single mothers may provide one-time cash payments for the purchase of school clothes, sports uniforms, or provide the opportunity to purchase these items in discount stores. In some regions, authorities pay for travel and meals for schoolchildren.
How to reduce the interest rate on a home loan at Sberbank
Interest rate reduction options:
- Refinancing is the repayment of an existing mortgage using borrowed funds received from another bank on more favorable terms.
- Changing the terms of the agreement pre-trial or in court is an opportunity to reduce interest on the loan, provided that violations are identified during the preparation of documents on the part of the lender.
- Debt restructuring is the possibility of reducing the size of monthly payments by prolonging the loan.
- The use of government programs in which the conditions are more attractive.
- Connecting life insurance when applying for a mortgage (the rate will be reduced by 1%).
- Purchasing real estate at a discount from the developer. In this case, he independently pays 1-2% of the mortgage.
- Transfer of wages to Sberbank to reduce the rate by 0.6%.
Preferential use of the pool for children with one parent
In order to preserve and strengthen the health of children, regional and municipal authorities may provide preferential conditions when paying for the cost of physical education, health and sports services. But only in the case when these services are provided by institutions that are part of the state system of physical education and sports.
For example, such benefits are provided for in paragraph 7 of Art. 32 of the Law “On Social Support for Families with Children in the City of Moscow” dated November 23, 2005 No. 60. You can find out about the benefits provided in the field of physical education and sports on the official websites of sports institutions - on the website of the Moscow Department of Sports in the section “Preferential Services”, preferential benefits are listed categories of citizens who have the opportunity to receive physical education, health and sports services at the Olympic Village sports complex (use of swimming pools and a gym, visits to children's swimming sections). Beneficiaries include children from large and low-income families, orphans and disabled children. To obtain subscriptions on preferential terms, you must contact the administration of the sports complex with documents.
Travel reimbursement and free entry to the zoo
Are there benefits for single mothers in 2021 to reduce travel costs and expenses for cultural events for their children?
Taking children to the zoo and not worrying about paying for travel on city public transport - such benefits can be enjoyed, for example, by capital families with children (Article 26 of the Law “On Social Support for Families with Children in the City of Moscow” dated November 23, 2005 No. 60). Children living with one parent are not included in a separate category of beneficiaries, but enjoy the same privileges.
Children with Moscow registration who have not reached the age of 7 years have the right to:
- for free travel on buses, trolleybuses and trams (public urban passenger transport);
- free entry to zoos, cultural and recreational parks, exhibition halls and museums run by the capital’s government.
Benefits do not apply if the child is visiting a private museum or using other means of transport (for example, private taxis or commercial shuttle buses).
If a single mother lives in a small locality, she will not need this kind of benefits - the village may not have public transport, much less a zoo.
Mortgage from Sber for mothers on maternity leave
There are no special offers or requirements for a woman on maternity leave. And therefore, you should focus on the standard requirements and norms described in this article.
Expert opinion
Irina Bogdanova
Work experience at Sberbank for 12 years.
First of all, this is Law 102-FZ “On Mortgage (Pledge of Real Estate),” which outlines mortgage obligations and requirements.
It also stipulates the content of the agreement and the safety features of the property that serves as collateral for the loan.
Reimbursement for telephone costs
Are there benefits for single mothers in 2021 to pay for communication services?
Compensation payments for telephone payments personally for single mothers are practically not found in regional legal entities. Although this type of social support exists for low-income and large families. For example, in Art. 17.2 of Law No. 60 for metropolitan families with three or more children, one of the parents (guardian, guardian, stepmother or stepfather) is provided with monthly compensation for using the telephone. This type of social support is provided until the youngest child in the family reaches the age of 18.
You should not expect full reimbursement for landline phone costs or reimbursement for cellular phone costs. Regions usually provide payments “per telephone” as a percentage of the approved subscription fee tariff.
Does a single mother get free housing?
The status of a single mother in itself does not give her the opportunity to count on free housing. There is no such privilege in the law. But in combination with other conditions (for example, low income, a certain age of the mother, etc.), a single mother can participate in special housing programs.
For example, she can take part in the Young Family program. To do this, she must be no more than 35 years old, and she must prove that her family needs improved living conditions.
The program does not provide free housing, but allows you to receive partial financing for the purchase from the local budget. At the same time, the program participant must have his own funds or a source of their receipt to make the mandatory down payment.
In addition, to solve housing problems, a single mother can try to get on the waiting list for social housing. There are also a number of conditions, the fulfillment of which is checked when placing a single mother on the social housing queue (the presence of a disability in the mother or child; a diagnosis of an illness of a family member confirmed by a medical institution that is unacceptable when living together in the same living space; unsuitability of housing for habitation).
Use of maternity capital
A single mother can use maternity capital to purchase housing.
These products are used when a child is 3 years old. Until a child turns three years old, maternity capital funds can only be spent through a loan/mortgage. When making a purchase, a woman also registers an apartment (house) for her children. In some regions of the country there are programs providing regional maternity capital. As a rule, it is less than the federal one, but it can also be used to solve the housing problem.
Recently, regulations regarding single mothers have been revised. Some rules have been canceled completely or partially; there are differences in this issue in regions.
Results
What compensation, benefits and other payments are due to single mothers in 2021 can be found out from the social security authorities or the municipality. Like all expectant mothers, single mothers receive maternity benefits, as well as child benefits (one-time and monthly). As additional support from the state, depending on the region of residence, they can count on free special food (dairy kitchen), reimbursement of expenses for clothing and stationery for schoolchildren, free travel on public transport, etc. To receive such preferences in most regions, in addition The status of a single mother must also meet other criteria (large families, low income, etc.).
Sources:
- Tax Code of the Russian Federation
- Labor Code of the Russian Federation
- Law “On state benefits for citizens with children” dated May 19, 1995 No. 81-FZ
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