This year threatens to become quite difficult for the entire economy of our country, however, pessimistic forecasts regarding the maternity capital program in 2015 are completely unjustified. Despite the fact that social expenses are a fairly significant part of the country’s budget, maternity capital in 2015 will not go anywhere, since the program is enshrined in law until December 31, 2016.
Regarding the future fate of this demographic project, you can read in the article “Maternity capital: until what year is the program designed?”, however, we can say that the situation is ambivalent. And although the majority of the top officials of the state consider the extension of maternity capital until 2025 to be necessary for a normal increase in the birth rate in Russia, the crisis relations of our homeland with the whole world dictate a policy of saving budget funds. However, judging by information from the media, families in which two or more children are born will also be financially encouraged by the state, however, perhaps in a slightly different form. However, there are at least two more years before this issue is resolved, which means it’s worth clarifying what maternity capital has in store for us in the near future.
Expected amount of maternity capital in 2015
Maxim Topilin, who heads the Ministry of Labor, officially stated back in 2014 that it is planned to increase the amount of maternity capital by 2015 to approximately 490,000 rubles. However, an analysis of previous indexations in 2013 and 2014 assumed an average increase in the amount of benefits by 5% each year, which led to the conclusion that maternity capital in 2015 would be close to the figure of 450,878 rubles.
Currently, in 2015, maternity capital is equal to 453,026 rubles, and next year, 2016, it is planned to increase it to 473,412 rubles.
Receiving 20,000 rubles in cash from maternity capital funds
At a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation dedicated to the development of a number of anti-crisis measures and held on January 22, 2015, a bill was approved on the possibility of parents receiving 20,000 rubles from maternity capital funds. The family can spend this money at their own discretion, since this entire amount can be received in cash by submitting an application and the necessary documentation to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.
This is precisely the statement made by the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Sergei Velmyaykin. This forced measure to support families was already carried out during the previous crisis, in 2009 and 2010, offering parents to receive about 12,000 rubles, and the Government of the Russian Federation, in the context of a growing economic crisis, decided to support this bill, designed to help families in the difficult economic conditions of this year. In the meantime, the law is under development and will be fully announced in early February.
Changes in the direction of targeted spending of maternity capital funds
At the same meeting, it was proposed to remove MFOs (microfinance organizations) from working with maternity capital funds, and this project also received approval. This bill is in the process of being developed, but its approval is associated with the increase in fraudulent schemes for cashing out maternity capital funds carried out specifically through microfinance organizations.
No matter how much we would like to please our fellow citizens with good news, maternity capital in 2015 can only be spent on the same three purposes as in previous years: housing, education for children and the funded part of the mother’s pension.
However, it’s nice that “reliable” parents will be able to spend money on housing without waiting for their youngest child to turn three years old. It is also worth adding that the targeted spending of maternity capital on education includes not only paying for a university, but also studying at a music or art school, at a technical school, or even paying for receipts for a private kindergarten.
In addition, when considering maternity capital in 2015, it should be remembered that this year’s agenda includes a discussion of bills to expand the targeted use of certificate funds. It is planned to discuss the possibility of paying for the treatment of children with benefits and the possibility of paying for the education of both parents from the amount of maternity capital.
Maternity capital has also been introduced in Crimea since 2015
Starting from the first day of 2015, Crimea, which is part of Russia, will also be connected to the state program to support families with two or more children.
Sergey Aksenov, who holds the post of acting Republic of Crimea, stated that, in accordance with the wishes of Russian President V.V. Putin, maternity capital in 2015 will be issued to residents of Crimea on the same basis as to residents of other regions of our country. Moreover, this will apply not only to those women who give birth to a child after 2015, but also to those families who acquired a second child earlier, within the validity period of this state program. So there is good news that awaits maternity capital 2015.
Closer to the new year, we will be happy to inform you of reliable facts regarding the size and intended use of maternity capital in 2015. Stay tuned!
The amount of maternity capital in 2015 is now 453 thousand 26 rubles; the money can be spent on improving living conditions, educating children or increasing the mother’s pension. In addition, the possibility of using maternity capital to purchase a car is now being considered, but there is no decision on this issue yet.
Mostly, young families spend maternity capital on buying an apartment, and in order to make the purchase of a new home more affordable, it is also proposed to allow the use of maternity capital as a down payment on a mortgage before the child turns 3 years old.
What is needed to receive maternity capital in 2015
You can receive maternity capital within 3 years from the date of birth or adoption of the second child, while the second child must be born or adopted no later than December 31, 2016. But the period for using maternity capital after receiving it is in no way limited.
However, the issue of extending the maternity capital program until 2022 is currently being considered. Extension of the program in the context of the economic crisis in Russia is now extremely necessary for young families.
Documents for obtaining maternity capital in 2015
The list of documents for obtaining maternity capital in 2015 remains the same:
- Russian passport of the parent (mother);
- child's birth certificate;
- if the child was adopted, then an adoption certificate.
The child’s father can also receive maternity capital in the absence of the mother (or deprivation of her parental rights) or if the man alone adopts two or more children.
Also, maternity capital is provided to a minor child who has lost his only parent or adoptive parent.
It is worth adding that maternity capital is not issued in cash, but only in the form of a certificate.
Expert opinion on the increase in maternity capital in 2015
Maternity capital is indexed every year taking into account the growth rate of inflation, so in 2015 it increased by 23.6 thousand rubles. Is it a lot or a little?
The real inflation rate is now much higher than the one the government uses in its calculations. Prices for many baby food, accessories, clothing, toys and other goods for children, which are mainly imported, have increased 2-2.5 times due to the rise in the dollar and euro, and real estate has also risen in price. And taking into account the fact that the Central Bank increased the key rate to 17 percent, mortgage rates have increased significantly and have become unaffordable for most families. In the current economic conditions, the established amount of maternity capital is simply not enough to provide even minimal needs, however, the country’s budget does not provide for an increase in maternity capital by more than 23.6 thousand rubles.
Let's start with some definitions. What is the essence of maternity capital?
Maternity (family) capital- these are funds that, since 2007, our state has provided free of charge at the birth (adoption) of a second and subsequent child. The payment amount started at 250,000 rubles, is indexed annually, and in 2014 it amounted to 429,408.50 rubles.
The amount of maternity (family) capital is reviewed annually taking into account the rate of inflation growth and is set for the corresponding financial year.
A change in the size of maternal (family) capital as a result of its revision taking into account the rate of inflation or in the case of disposal of part of it does not entail a replacement of the certificate.
The document confirming the right to receive maternity capital is called a state certificate. ( Art. 2 Federal Law of December 29, 2006 N 256-FZ (as amended on July 2, 2013, as amended on June 23, 2014) “On additional measures of state support for families with children”)
The federal law comes into force on January 1, 2007 and applies to legal relations arising in connection with the birth (adoption) of a child (children) in the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016.
Who has the right to maternity capital?
( Art. 3 256-FZ)
This right arises, starting from January 1, 2007, upon the birth (adoption) of a child (children) having citizenship of the Russian Federation, to the following citizens of the Russian Federation, regardless of their place of residence:
- women who gave birth (adopted) second child;
- women who gave birth (adopted) a third child or subsequent children starting from January 1, 2007, if they had not previously exercised this right;
- men who are the sole adoptive parents of a second, third child or subsequent children who have not previously exercised the right to additional measures of state support, if the court decision on adoption entered into legal force starting from January 1, 2007.
Use of maternity capital funds
(Article 2 256-FZ):
- improvement of living conditions;
- getting an education;
- increasing the level of pension provision, taking into account the features established by law.
Deadline for exercising the right to receive maternity capital funds
(Article 3 256-FZ)
The right to maternity capital arises from the date of birth (adoption) of the second, third child or subsequent children, regardless of the period of time that has passed from the date of birth (adoption) of the previous child (children), and can be exercised no earlier than three years from the date of birth (adoption) of a second, third child or subsequent children, with the exception of the need to use maternity capital funds to repay the principal debt and pay interest on loans or borrowings for the acquisition (construction) of residential premises, including mortgage loans provided to citizens under a loan agreement (loan agreement) concluded with an organization, including a credit institution.
How and where to get a certificate?
Authorized bodies: territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation at the place of residence (stay) or actual residence or a multifunctional center for the provision of state and municipal services (citizens of the Russian Federation who have left for permanent residence outside the territory of the Russian Federation and do not have a place of residence or place confirmed by registration stay on the territory of the Russian Federation, submit an application directly to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation).
You can apply for a state certificate for maternity (family) capital at any time after the right arises.
An application for a state certificate is submitted in the prescribed form (you will receive the form upon registration along with a sample for filling it out) with the following documents attached:
- identification, place of residence (stay) or actual residence (persons who do not have a place of residence (stay) confirmed by registration within the Russian Federation indicate in the application the place of their actual residence on the territory of the Russian Federation;
- confirming the citizenship of the Russian Federation of a child, in connection with whose birth (adoption) the right to maternity capital arose;
- identification, place of residence (stay) or actual residence and powers of the legal representative or authorized representative;
- confirming the birth (adoption) of children;
- certificate of the insurance number of the individual personal account of the insured person in the compulsory pension insurance system of the Russian Federation (SNILS).
After submitting the documents, a corresponding receipt is issued indicating the registration number of the application. Within one month from the date of receipt of the application, a decision is made to issue or refuse to issue a certificate, of which a notification is sent to the applicant. Based on the notification received, you can receive a finished certificate at the place of application
In the event of a change in the last name, first name, patronymic of the owner of the certificate or the details of the identity document, the owner of the certificate has the right to contact the territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation to make appropriate changes to the certificate with the presentation of documents confirming these changes.
(Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation dated October 18, 2011 N 1180n “On approval of the Rules for filing an application for a state certificate for maternal (family) capital and issuing a state certificate for maternal (family) capital (its duplicate) and the form of a state certificate for maternal (family) capital ".
How to formalize the disposal of maternity capital funds?
Authorized bodies: territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation at the place of residence (stay) or actual residence or a multifunctional center for the provision of state and municipal services.
An application for disposal of maternity capital funds is submitted in the prescribed form for each specific case of disposal (you will receive the form upon registration along with a sample for filling it out) indicating the direction of use of maternity capital and attaching the following documents:
- certificate (its duplicate);
- insurance certificate of compulsory pension insurance of the person who received the certificate;
- identification documents, place of residence (stay) of the person who received the certificate.
After submitting the documents, a corresponding receipt is issued indicating the registration number of the application. If the application is satisfied, the transfer of maternity capital funds is carried out by the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation (territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation) no later than 2 months from the date of acceptance of the application.
Married couples planning to have a second or subsequent child in the near future are probably wondering what it will be like in 2015. According to preliminary data, next year the amount of maternity capital will be about 460,000 rubles. The maternity capital program first appeared in 2007. At that time, its size was 250,000 rubles. Accordingly, compared to the beginning, in 2015 the amount of maternity capital will increase by more than 40%.
Changes in maternity capital in 2015
According to the adopted law on maternity capital, this program should end on December 31, 2016. Accordingly, all families who give birth to or adopt a second or subsequent child next year will receive additional funds. Maternity capital is issued not in cash, but in the form of a certificate, the denomination of which increases annually according to the level. In addition, indexation also affects previously issued certificates that have not been used.
The government allowed the use of 20 thousand rubles of maternity capital
The main change in 2015 related to maternity capital is the permission of the Russian government for parents of two or more children to use maternity capital funds in the amount of 20 thousand rubles. This innovation was introduced as part of the developed anti-crisis program aimed at social support of the population.
We remind you that such a permit already existed during the crisis of 2008 - 2009, when holders of a maternal certificate were given 10 thousand rubles each.
Matkapital can be spent on a down payment on a mortgage
Another important change, which was adopted in May 2015 by the State Duma, is the permission to spend maternity capital funds to pay the down payment on a mortgage at any time after the birth of a child. Before this, maternity capital could be used to pay off a mortgage loan only three years after the birth of a second or subsequent child in the family.
Among other innovations that relate to maternity capital, it is worth noting the recently adopted bill, according to which maternity capital funds cannot be used to repay housing loans issued by microfinance organizations. This law is aimed at protecting against unscrupulous financial organizations.
In addition, several more changes are expected in the maternity capital program in 2015.
Firstly, the government is considering the possibility of introducing a new direction for spending funds. This direction is the provision of high-tech medical care. Now it is impossible to spend the face value of the certificate on the treatment of seriously ill children, but many believe that this restriction should be removed.
Secondly, it is possible that the maternity capital program will continue after 2016. Initially, it was planned to cancel the program on January 31, 2016, but now the issue is being considered to ensure that after this period maternity capital is issued only to low-income families. According to the President of the Russian Federation, the government cannot yet guarantee the extension of this program, because the number of families with incomes below the average level is constantly increasing, and it is not yet known whether there will be enough government funds to pay for maternity capital. However, V.V. Putin assured that, regardless of whether the program continues after 2016 or not, additional support will be provided to low-income citizens.
And thirdly, the issue of removing the opportunity to use the amount of maternity capital for the mother is being considered.
Maternity capital and demographic growth
For a long time, Russia has been experiencing a demographic crisis, the level of which has reached almost catastrophic levels. In this regard, the government was forced to look for additional measures that could increase the birth rate in a short period of time. Maternity capital became such a measure. The law on this program was adopted on January 1, 2007. After which, every Russian citizen, upon the birth or adoption of a second or subsequent child, receives a certificate with funds that can be used to improve living conditions, pay for the child’s subsequent education, or as pension savings for the mother. The main goal of the law on maternity capital is not only to improve the well-being of young families, but also to increase the demographic level in the country.
Since the maternity capital program has been in effect for several years, analysts were able to draw some conclusions about its effectiveness. The country's birth rate has indeed increased since 2007, but analysts believe that demographic growth should not be linked solely to the payment of additional funds. As shown by the results of a survey among women who gave birth after 2007, the presence of maternal capital was not the reason why they decided to have a child. The demographic growth of the last six years is, rather, explained by the calm situation in the country and a general improvement in the financial situation. Moreover, experts from the international community, based on the experience of other countries that fought the demographic crisis through material incentives, believe that by 2017-2018, maternity capital could lead to a demographic hole.
Despite the vague future of this program, by the end of 2016 maternity capital will be paid to all families for whom it is intended.
The maternity capital program began in 2007 in the form of the implementation of additional measures of state support for families with children. Their provision within the framework of the program is established by Federal Law No. 256-FZ of December 29, 2006 by providing a one-time state subsidy for certificates aimed at creating conditions that ensure a decent standard of living. In total, by the beginning of 2016, more than 6.5 million Russian families had already received certificates for maternal capital.
Additional measures of state support for families with children- these are measures that provide the opportunity, as well as at the expense of federal budget funds transferred to the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.
Over the past months, an option from maternity capital funds has been discussed, similar to last year’s anti-crisis measure, but within the framework new anti-crisis plan, aimed at maintaining social and economic stability during the crisis in 2016-2017.
Features of the program implementation in 2015 and 2016
The program was initially designed for a 10-year period, starting on January 1, 2007 and ending on December 31, 2016. However, Vladimir Putin instructed to extend maternity capital until 2018 inclusive.
Attention! In accordance with the rules established by law, the known restriction until December 31, 2018 does not apply to the opportunity itself. This restriction establishes only the period for the birth of a second or subsequent children, who will be issued a state-issued certificate with the possibility of sending it, as before, after the child reaches three years of age.
In addition, the current law does not provide for time restrictions on obtaining a certificate. The necessary documents to receive maternity (family) capital can be submitted at any time before the child turns 23 years old. To do this, you need to contact the Pension Fund office at your place of residence with a package of basic documents. After submitting all documents and application, a decision on issuing a certificate will be made within 1 month.
On September 30, 2014, the Russian media announced proposals from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation to optimize budget expenditures for 2015 and the planning period 2016-2017, concerning closure of the maternity capital program in 2015 due to its ineffectiveness. According to the Ministry's estimates, this measure will save 300 billion rubles a year. This proposal did not find support in the Government of the Russian Federation, and payments of maternity capital for 2015-2017 are already planned in the federal budget in full.
Indexation and established size for 2015 and 2016
Indexation of fixed payments is generally aimed at adjusting their purchasing power taking into account annual inflation. This mechanism is also provided for maternal (family) capital, because not every family has the right and opportunity to dispose of it immediately.
For 2015, in accordance with the draft Federal Budget Law, an increase in the amount of maternity capital, which corresponds to the amount RUB 453,026 In 2016, the amount on the certificate not indexed.
In the table below you can familiarize yourself with the changes that occurred with.
| Year | Size, rub. | Indexation, % |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 250 000,0 | — |
| 2008 | 276 250,0 | 10,5 |
| 2009 | 312 162,5 | 13 |
| 2010 | 343 378,8 | 10 |
| 2011 | 365 698,4 | 6,5 |
| 387 640,3 | 6 | |
| 408 960,5 | 5,4 | |
| 429 408,5 | 5 | |
| 453 026,0 | 5,5 |
In subsequent years, the indexation of the amount of payments may slow down due to negative phenomena in the country's economy. In particular, according to the forecasts of the Ministry of Labor, due to the long-term decline in revenues to the federal budget, indexation of maternity capital for 2016 was not carried out at all, and for 2017 and 2018 it is planned in a smaller volume than the actual inflation rates.
Possible changes
In the summer of 2014, deputies of the Belgorod Regional Duma drafted a bill to extend the period of the family capital payment program until the end of 2026, which was considered not entirely appropriate in the conditions of crisis processes developing in the country’s economy.
Earlier, as part of the order of the President of the Russian Federation on assessing the feasibility of extending the maternity capital program after the end of 2016, the Government of the Russian Federation announced the need continuation of state support families in connection with the birth (adoption) of a second and subsequent child. In particular, according to the Government, the provision of maternity capital led to an increase in the total fertility rate in the country by 2012 to 1.7.
At the moment, no final decision has been made on this matter. Obviously, everything can be decided within the next two years. To a large extent, the difficulties and doubts in the social policy of the country's leadership are determined by economic instability in the country, Western sanctions imposed on the Russian economy and the development of general trends in the global economic crisis. We can only hope that the Russian Federation will avoid forced measures to curtail state social support programs.
