At the request of those giving birth

There is no queue for maternity capital yet

Yesterday, the regional branches of the Russian Pension Fund began accepting applications from citizens applying for so-called maternity capital . The law “On additional measures of state support for families with children,” adopted by the State Duma in the third reading on December 22 and signed by the president on the last day of the year, obliges the allocation of 250 thousand rubles from the budget. to those women who gave birth to or adopted a second or any other subsequent child. The norm came into force on January 1, 2007, but due to the holidays, citizens only had the real opportunity to submit an application yesterday.

There was no rush in the Pension Fund branches yesterday. As the Vremya Novostei correspondent was told by the fund's press service, in Moscow and the region yesterday a little more than 30 applications for maternity capital were accepted, in the Altai Territory - three (where Pension Fund employees came to see women directly at the maternity hospital), in Udmurtia - two, in the Kurgan region and Primorsky Territory - one each. In Mordovia, no one has yet taken the risk of filing a petition for the accrual of maternity capital. True, four young parents did go to the local Pension Fund branch, limiting themselves to making inquiries.

If you look at it, the Russians really have nowhere to rush. After all, the new one-time benefit is called “capital” for a reason. The fact is that these quarter of a million rubles will not turn into cash for their owners. And in the next three years no one will be able to use this money at all. All this time they must remain in the accounts of the Pension Fund, which is obliged to manage them more or less competently. So that citizens don’t feel so offended while local authorities are trying to support women in labor from local budgets. For example, in Saratov they give out strollers and washing machines, and in Altai - 10 thousand rubles each.

But from 2010, maternity capital will be officially “unfrozen”, and parents will be able to use it for education or improving the child’s living conditions. There is a third application for this non-cash benefit: it can be added to the funded part of the parents’ pension. That is, in fact, leave it in the same Pension Fund. In the first two cases, mothers and fathers will have to provide their curator at the fund with information about the educational institution or developer whose services they intend to use, listen to recommendations and receive approval. These formalities should insure parents and children from senseless waste of funds.

According to preliminary estimates, the implementation of the law in three years will require 131.8 billion rubles. It is worth noting that the Pension Fund plans to issue certificates for receiving maternity capital only in February. A document guaranteeing the right to benefits will be provided with several degrees of protection. The foundation takes a month to consider applications from parents. Then, within five days, they receive a “mother’s letter” in which the Pension Fund will notify about the assignment of capital. To receive the certificate itself, you will have to appear in person at the Pension Fund authority.

Galina PAPERNAYA