What are food cards?

Preferential cards are coupons for the purchase of food products that will be issued by government authorities to categories of citizens recognized as low-income. The poor are considered citizens of the Russian Federation whose average per capita income is less than the subsistence level.

For each region, this amount is determined in accordance with Federal Law No. 134 of October 24, 1997 (as amended on April 1, 2019) on the subsistence level. This value is established by the executive authorities of each subject of the Russian Federation in proportion to the consumer basket. The cost of living is determined quarterly, taking into account inflation, prices for food and non-food products, utility costs and other payments.

The food package for the poor will be replaced with an electronic certificate

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“Moscow has had a food assistance program for 20 years. We decided to change it, that is, to give people the opportunity to purchase exactly what they need. The food package will be replaced with an electronic certificate,” Petrosyan said.

Who is entitled to vouchers in 2021 - legal framework

The introduction of coupons was planned back in 2015 for all categories of low-income citizens:

• families with low income;
• single citizens;
• large families;
• families with children under three years of age;
• single mothers;
• unemployed people who are officially registered at the labor exchange;
• disabled people;
• pensioners.

The program is expected to be implemented in 2021 based on legal documents:

1. Order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia dated December 25, 2014 N 2733: stimulates the development of entrepreneurs, agricultural markets, multi-format trade, reducing the administrative burden on business to achieve good results in import substitution. The law allows you to support small businesses and entrepreneurial activities through the purchase of domestically produced products using coupons.
2. Federal Law No. 44 of 04/05/2013 establishes the rights and obligations of suppliers and customers who participate in the state program. The law regulates the planning and control of procurement, the conclusion and execution of contracts. Taking into account this document, candidates for suppliers of food products will be considered for participation in the state program.
3. Federal Law No. 82 dated June 19, 2000 N 82-FZ establishes the amount of wages, sick leave benefits, and compensation for harm caused to the employee’s health. In accordance with the minimum wage amounts, the state will consider applicants for receipt of coupons.
4. Federal Law No. 197 of December 30, 2001 regulates labor relations between employee and employer, protects the interests of able-bodied citizens by setting wages no less than the minimum wage.
5. Art. 49 Federal Law No. 188 of December 29, 2004 on the provision of housing under a social tenancy agreement explains the requirements for residential premises for low-income citizens. The Federal Law helps to establish whether a person who has applied for preferential coupons to the relevant authorities belongs to the category of low-income people.

To determine the possibility of receiving government assistance in the form of social cards, it is necessary to calculate the average per capita income of each family member. If a person lives alone, you need to add up all the profits received over the previous three months and divide the resulting figure by 3.

For family people, the calculation is made in a similar way, only it includes the profit of all family members for three months, including pensioners and minors. Next, the resulting amount is divided by 3 to obtain the total family income for the month. The last step is to divide the amount received by the number of family members.

If the calculation results in an amount that does not exceed the subsistence level, you can apply for social assistance from the state.

What needs to be done to receive an electronic social certificate?

Within a month after submitting the application, the issue of providing assistance will be considered by the Central Social Security Commission, then a register of recipients of assistance will be formed. The register will be transferred to the UZSN of the city of Moscow, and from there to the State Unitary Enterprise “Moscow Social Register”. Then the summarized information will be transferred to the Department of Information Technology of the city of Moscow, where the electronic social certificate will be activated and conditional points will be credited to it.

What will happen next?

If the Recipient of social assistance is being served in the departments of social and socio-medical services at home, social patronage of the social service center, the head of the department must write an application or memo addressed to the head of the center and also attach the above documents to it.

1. A food social certificate is an analogue of food packages. Having an active food social certificate, a citizen can spend the allocated number of points in a store at his own discretion. It is important to remember that alcohol and tobacco products are not included in the list of permitted goods.
2. Social certificate for durable goods - points can be spent on equipment or other manufactured goods. In addition to standard retail outlets, social certificates are accepted for payment in online stores. For example, on the website of the Media Markt store, you can select a suitable product, order it, and then pay with a social card, writing off points for the purchase of household appliances (TV, stove, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, laptop, etc.).
3. Social certificate for children's goods - provided only to families with children. You can use points for purchases in the Detsky Mir and Korablik stores. A list of goods that can be purchased with social benefits can be obtained from the social security service, which has confirmed the right to social rehabilitation of citizens.

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The Moscow government is gradually expanding the scope of targeted assistance to citizens in need. An electronic social certificate is one of the types of such assistance. In the article we will look at what it is and who is entitled to it, the current types of social certificates, as well as how to obtain it.

What is a social certificate?

• a valid social card for a Moscow resident;
• the applicant's identity card;
• papers confirming that a citizen belongs to a certain preferential category (medical certificates of disability, certificate of a WWII veteran or pensioner, certificate of large families, etc.);
• certificates confirming income for the last 12 months;
• SNILS of the applicant;
• work record book and certificates of receipt of unemployment benefits (for persons who do not have a permanent place of work).

If we look at the food certificate program as a whole, it justified itself when pilot projects were launched in the regions. Thus, disabled people were given certificates to purchase technical means of rehabilitation. Citizens who use wheelchairs, instead of receiving a wheelchair from the state, let’s be honest, not of very high quality, used such certificates and bought those chairs that were comfortable for them. The certificate is a great opportunity to independently choose what you want. We haven't invented anything new. This practice is common in many countries, including some Russian regions. We have a social state, all citizens are equal, and if there are people in need, support measures must be provided,” concluded Yaroslav Nilov.

If the bill is approved, regional authorities will have to enter into contracts with retail chains. By coming to the store and providing a certificate, a citizen will be able to purchase food products; subsequently, regional authorities will have to reimburse the retail chain for this amount. The authors of the legislative initiative are counting on additional discounts and special offers on a number of products as part of the implementation of such certificates.

Approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade

Members of the LDPR faction announced the start of work on a bill on issuing food certificates to low-income citizens. As a result of the working meeting, parliamentarians began to develop an initiative to determine need criteria for those Russians who will receive certificates for a fixed amount. As specified, its size must be at least 25% of the federal subsistence level.

The social function of the state is to help people who find themselves in difficult financial situations. For this purpose, citizens in need are provided with subsidies and benefits, as well as cash payments and the distribution of basic necessities. The Moscow authorities tried to improve this mechanism and replaced the natural issuance of things and food with electronic certificates.

How to apply and where to apply

State support measures will apply only to those people who draw up the appropriate documents for the provision of benefits. To do this, you need to collect certificates and other reports, undergo an interview, and prove the reasons for financial insolvency. It has not yet been announced where and how the service will be issued. It is planned that multifunctional centers or social protection authorities will deal with documentation. It is known for sure that benefits must be reissued every six months.

Food certificates will be distributed to the poor

In total, there are about 700 such retail outlets in Moscow that accept certificates. And most are within walking distance. By the way, you can “purchase” the certificate with any product. But they won’t sell you alcohol or cigarettes in exchange for it. You can receive a certificate at your place of residence - at the regional social service center.

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First, however, social security workers draw up an examination report: what exactly happened. To do this, you often need to visit a Muscovite’s apartment. Then, within seven days, points are added to the Muscovite’s electronic social card: 1 point - 1 ruble. Then, using a social card, these points can be spent by paying with them through the reader at the checkout.

What is a point payment system?

In order to implement the social program, the state came up with a point system for servicing electronic cards. The essence of the system: a plastic card issued to a citizen with a low income will receive a certain number of points every month, which depends on the subject of residence. 1 point = 1 ruble.

Using points, you can purchase products in stores and supermarkets that are partners of the state program and support the Mir payment system. Products can only be from specific domestic manufacturers. Points not used during the month will expire. Cash withdrawals from the card are not possible.

The grocery card can be replenished using your own funds. When you transfer money to a plastic card, bonus points in the amount of 40% of the payment amount will be automatically credited.

What is included in the grocery basket

After the World Health Organization reported that citizens of retirement age, along with people suffering from serious illnesses, are at risk, they were forced to isolate themselves from society.

How to get a food package

So in March 2021, volunteers created a large-scale project “We Are Together,” which united many commercial and non-profit organizations. Their goal is to provide people in difficult situations with help and assistance so that they can survive quarantine as comfortably as possible. Within a month, special headquarters were opened throughout the country.

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Putin recalled that this issue had already been raised on the agenda and instructions were given to the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss this topic. According to him, food certificates have both disadvantages and advantages that must be taken into account.

Reasons for refusal

Only low-income people will be able to apply for subsidies. The government authorities that will be involved in processing assistance intend to check whether the applicant really found himself in a difficult financial situation due to external circumstances. When applying, all sources of income will be taken into account, including benefits and additional income, such as money received from rental housing, part-time jobs and others.

The benefit will not be received by persons whose income exceeds the minimum wage, individual entrepreneurs, owners of subsidiary plots, and freelancers. The fact is that their income may be hidden from the state, and assistance is provided only to those in need.

Grocery cards are not an innovation, but a system long forgotten in Russia from Soviet times. Recently, food cards have been actively used by low-income citizens of Cuba, the USA and Great Britain.