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.

Housing for low-income families in 2021

To understand how a queue for housing is formed and such living space is provided, you need to familiarize yourself with the main concepts that are found everywhere both in official documentation and in legal acts.

About legislative regulation

This documentation is also accompanied by a certificate from a low-income family. The distribution of money is carried out in the standard manner, however, after the possibility of participation of the citizen and his family in the state assistance program (a housing program for low-income families) has been confirmed.

Most often, free land is allocated in remote areas where there may be no utilities and necessary communications. Some citizens who are allocated land on a preferential basis refuse to receive it when it comes to choosing a site, since they are not satisfied with the location and the lack of utility networks. And many simply do not need such “gifts” from regional authorities, so be careful and carefully familiarize yourself with the conditions for allocating a free summer cottage from the state.

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.

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.

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.

Housing subsidy

The state provides assistance to low-income people to improve their living conditions. The subsidies apply to citizens of the Russian Federation. State programs are implemented by:

1. Registration of those in need of improved housing conditions. Social housing for low-income people is provided from the state or municipal housing stock.
2. Purchasing your own real estate or building a house using a social mortgage. It is distinguished by preferential interest rates, the presence of social guarantees, and the ability to pay the down payment or part of the loan using maternity capital. There are special programs that provide additional financing for repayment of a mortgage loan from budget funds. Thus, according to the “Young Family” program, up to 70% of the mortgage amount can be obtained from the state budget to pay for the cost of purchased housing. In 2021, low-income citizens will be issued mortgages for construction or finished housing at 6%, the rest of the interest will be covered from budget funds.

To register, you should contact local authorities, write an application and provide the following documents:

• passport of adult citizens;
• children's birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate;
• certificate of absence of residential property;
• certificate of family composition;
• income certificate.

The decision is made within a month, but before making it, the living conditions are examined by a commission. Mostly housing subsidies for low-income people are provided in the form of a certificate. To obtain housing in this way, you should follow the following algorithm:

• open a bank account for crediting certificate funds;
• choose residential real estate (when purchasing from a developer, its readiness must be more than 70%);
• draw up a purchase and sale agreement;
• provide an agreement to the bank to transfer funds to the seller;
• take a receipt from the seller about the receipt of money, draw up an act of acceptance and transfer of real estate;
• register property;
• provide a certificate of registration to the housing stock.

Conditions of receipt

Article 49 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation states the right of low-income citizens to free priority housing. According to Article 51 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, citizens are recognized as in need of improved housing conditions and are registered for the allocation of social housing on the following grounds:

1. There are no residential property owners or social housing tenants among family members.
2. The premises in which low-income citizens live are unsuitable for habitation and are in disrepair.
3. One of the family members is seriously ill.
4. Several families live in one room (apartment, house).
5. Owned or rented housing does not meet established standards. According to the law, 1 person is entitled to at least 18 square meters. m of living space.

• Beef tongue - how to cook it correctly. Recipes for the most delicious dishes with photos and videos
• How to attract a man
• How to cure toenail fungus at home

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

Anatoly Darchiev - higher education in economics with a specialty in “Finance and Credit” and higher education in law in the direction of “Criminal Law and Criminology” at the Russian State Social University (RGSU). Worked for more than 7 years at Sberbank of Russia and Credit Europe Bank. He is a financial advisor to large financial and consulting organizations. Engaged in improving the financial literacy of visitors to the Brobank service. Analyst and banking expert. [email protected]

Is this article useful? Not really

Help us find out how much this article helped you. If something is missing or the information is not accurate, please report it below in the comments or write to us by email

How to get help for low-income families

• application for targeted social assistance;
• an identification document of the applicant containing information about the place of residence in the city of Moscow.
• Muscovite social card (if you are applying for durable goods);
• a document containing information about circumstances that worsen or may worsen the living conditions of a citizen in order to recognize him as in need of social services;
• information on the income of a citizen and his family members for the last 12 calendar months preceding the application for social services (with the exception of information on the amount of disability and (or) old age pensions, which are paid by a state institution - the Moscow branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and Moscow region).
• a document confirming the identity of the representative (if the representative applies);
• a document confirming the authority of the representative (if the representative applies).

What types of support for low-income families are provided in Moscow?

• personally, in ;
• Please note: a constructor for city payments for families with children has been created on the official website of the Moscow Mayor, mos.ru. By going to the service page and using this service, you can fill out one application for most of the city payments due to you.

In St. Petersburg, citizens of the Russian Federation who have lived in the city for at least ten years and have the status of a low-income or large family, WWII veterans and combatants, disabled people and families with disabled children, and some other categories are accepted for registration.

1. Application - filled out on the spot.
2. A passport with a registration mark and a certificate of registration at the place of residence in St. Petersburg in form 9, if there is no mark about this in the passport.
3. Documents on family composition: marriage or divorce certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of a family member or other document confirming family composition.
4. Certificate of registration as unemployed - if a person does not work and is registered not in St. Petersburg.
5. Certificate of disability if he, the child or another family member is disabled and requires care.
6. Documents confirming family income for three months.
7. Documents confirming the status of a low-income family: a work book for an unemployed person, a certificate confirming that the child has a disease due to which he cannot attend kindergarten, a certificate of registration as unemployed, a certificate or copy of an order from the place of work if the person is in unpaid leave and caring for a family member.
8. Documents confirming expenses for overcoming a difficult life situation: medical report and checks for payment for necessary medications, medical products or rehabilitation services. In the case of home renovation - a repair report from the contractor, receipts for the purchase of building materials.

How to get free legal assistance

1. Military personnel serving on conscription or studying in military institutions of higher education that have not entered into a contract for military service.
2. Those serving a sentence of imprisonment or those in custody.
3. Those undergoing compulsory treatment by court decision.
4. Fully state supported.

The application and accompanying documents are submitted to a specialized unit of the local administration. At the acceptance stage, an initial check is carried out. Some municipalities organized the submission of applications through the MFC. In any case, personal presence is required to verify the identity of applicants. It is recommended to find out in advance how low-income people in a certain region can obtain housing from the state for free. Information on the number of waiting lists and planned indicators in the area of ​​solving the identified problems will be useful

• real estate remains the property of the state;
• a program to generally improve the comfort (quality of infrastructure) of the urban environment is being activated;
• mortgage rates are reduced to an average level of less than 8%;
• in the total volume of targeted funding, the majority (90%) will be generated from federal funds;
• additional land plots are allocated for the construction of individual residential buildings;
• coordination of actions of departments and organizations is ensured to supply new facilities with electricity, gas, and water.

Where to contact

• salary for three months is confirmed by certificates from the accounting department of the employer’s enterprise;
• document the receipt (absence) of other income;
• To accurately calculate the size of the total area per person, they submit an apartment plan, which can be obtained from the BTI or from Rosreestr.

• ID card (Russian passport);
• statement;
• property documents (it is advisable that you do not have your own home);
• certificates confirming need;
• extracts from the house register;
• papers confirming the right to use real estate (if any);
• certificates of family composition;
• marriage/divorce/birth certificates.

The size of the allocated area may depend on belonging to one or another category. If a citizen has the right to apply for a plot of land in several categories, then he can still receive land for free only once.

Categories of citizens

When applying for social support measures for low-income families, information about the level of property security is not provided according to all the criteria for assessing the level of property security provided for in paragraph 2.1 of this Procedure.

• Child benefits;
• Providing social mortgages on preferential terms;
• Subsidies for payment of utility bills;
• Tax deductions at the place of work;
• Free travel on public transport;
• Free meals in school canteens;
• Receiving a basket of products for a newborn in the children's kitchen.

Comments: 5

Your comment (question) If you have questions about this article, you can tell us. Our team consists of only experienced experts and specialists with specialized education. We will try to help you in this topic:

Author of the article Anatoly Darchiev

Consultant, author Popovich Anna

Financial author Olga Pikhotskaya

1. Nailya
   04/07/2021 at 11:31 Hello. I am 53 years old, I am caring for an (incapacitated, bedridden) elderly mother (81 years old) and two other old women of the same age. We live in a village, in a private house. My husband is registered as unemployed, I don’t officially work anywhere. A week ago we received an order that we must change the gas meter, gas stove and gas heating boiler (AOGV) by June 1. We don’t have that kind of money. Can the social assistance service help us and are we considered low-income?
   Reply ↓ Anna Popovich
   04/07/2021 at 17:43

   Dear Nailya, the procedure for determining the subsistence level of a low-income family is established by the constituent entity of the Russian Federation, taking into account the subsistence minimums established for the relevant socio-demographic groups of the population. Contact the social security department at your place of residence, they will advise you in detail and tell you what benefits you are entitled to.

   Reply ↓