Social benefits and privileges for combat veterans

Combat veterans are classified as persons who receive assistance and support from the state. Unfortunately, many citizens who have received this status do not know the full range of their rights. In this article we will talk about what benefits are available to persons defending the interests of the state during a military or armed conflict.

The issue of providing benefits to combat veterans is regulated by the following legislative acts:

1. Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 12, 1995 - defines the categories of veterans, and also consolidates their social status and explains the features of providing government support measures.
2. Federal Law No. 4468-1 of February 12, 1993. This law establishes pension rights, as well as a list of other required social benefits.
3. The Tax Code of the Russian Federation explains the procedure for providing tax benefits and guarantees.

The above legislative acts have federal significance, that is, their norms apply throughout the country. There are also regional regulations. These documents contain a list of benefits that are valid in a particular region and regulate the process of obtaining the required benefits for a certain category of citizens.

Regional benefits complement the federal list of state support measures and are always financed from the budget of a particular region.

Legal basis

The procedure for obtaining veteran status and types of payments are regulated by the following regulations:

1. Federal Law dated January 12, 1995 No. 5-FZ. The law covers different categories of combatants, the procedure for obtaining certificates and types of social protection for veterans.
2. Resolution of the Ministry of Labor dated October 11, 2000 No. 69. The document regulates the procedure and conditions for the implementation of rights to benefits for veterans.
3. RF PP dated December 19, 2003 No. 763. The resolution approves the form of the certificate and the procedure for filling out the form.
4. Order of the Ministry of Defense dated September 29, 2017 No. 595. The order approves the procedure for issuing certificates to veterans.

Stages of benefit assignment

By law, the process of reviewing an application for benefits should take no more than ten days from the date of application.

There are three possible responses to the request:

1. The application will be granted. In this case, starting next month, the applicant will receive payment receipts for utility services with the required discount. The main thing is not to create debt in the future, since if such is present, the benefit is canceled and the debt is required at the full full tariff.
2. The application will be returned due to shortages or errors in the documents. This can happen if, for example, the applicant has a certificate not of a combat veteran, but of a labor veteran. Also, in the practice of multifunctional centers, it was found that the ID was fake, and the applicant was liable to the fullest extent of the law. In addition, you need to pay attention to all the points in filling out the application, and do not make a mistake in the passport number and ID number.
3. The application will be returned for an unspecified reason. In this case, you need to contact the MFC and clarify the reason for the revocation. If uncertainty arises there, or the refusal did not occur for a legal reason, then, firstly, you need to re-apply (there is a high probability of staff error), and, secondly, if the application is rejected again, file a lawsuit demanding the introduction of benefits. If there are no problems with the documents, then the court will accept the claim, and the employees of the multifunctional center will be punished.

Regardless of the answer, you need to remember: if all the documents are in order, then the law is always on the applicant’s side.
In addition, there are three options for dealing with unscrupulous employees of multifunctional centers and other people responsible for paying benefits:

• court, possible reasons for filing claims are listed in the last three paragraphs;
• the prosecutor's office, if we are talking about systematic violations of the law and criminal conspiracy in the MFC and other municipal bodies;
• appealing to the administration or the head of the city (settlement, town) has an “intimidating” effect on the service authorities.

In any case, at least one of the three options should work, but practice shows that the case usually ends in going to court.

It is unlikely that the applicant will need the help of a lawyer or an expensive notary, since Federal laws (which regulate subsidies) are accessible and transparent to any citizen, even not a specialist in legal issues.

What are the features of a veteran's ID?

The certificate gives its owner certain rights. For example, to receive social assistance. The document contains information about the recipient and the rule of law on the basis of which the serviceman is recognized as a military veteran.

The numbers “1”, “2”, “3” are used to indicate the base. It is entered in the line “The bearer has the rights...”. The figure depends on what kind of military actions the person participated in.

The veteran's certificate is issued by a special commission under the Russian Ministry of Defense. If a document is lost, the veteran should also contact this authority.

On a note! If the owner identifies an error in the form, he will have to receive a new document. The old certificate must be destroyed.

Are family members of veterans entitled to benefits?

Some benefits also apply to family members of veterans. Eg:

1. Children of veterans can visit children's health camps once a year for half price.
2. The child is given two free meals a day.

In addition, the family of a deceased veteran has the right to use all his benefits if they were supported by him. Children are automatically considered dependents, but the widow will have to collect a package of documents to prove this fact.

The following are entitled to such benefits:

• widow - until remarriage;
• children up to adulthood (or up to 23 years old, if studying at a university full-time);
• parents of the deceased.

In addition, they are given the right of preferential admission to homes for the disabled, boarding homes, various nursing homes, and social service centers.

Obtaining documentation

Procedure for obtaining a certificate:

1. Preparation of documents.
2. Submission of a report (application) to the commission under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (military personnel). Other citizens can also contact the military commissariat at their place of residence. The addresses of the commissions are indicated in Appendix No. 1.

The applicant must prepare:

• passport;
• military ID;
• photo 3? 4;
• evidence of participation in hostilities;
• order book (if any).

Copies of the above documents must be attached to the application. However, the veteran must have the originals with him.

The application review period is 30 days. In special cases, it can be extended for another month (clause 12 of Order No. 595 of the Ministry of Defense). The applicant will be notified separately of the decision.

If the commission refuses to issue a certificate to the applicant, he must be informed of the reason for such a decision. Usually an excerpt from the commission meeting is issued.

If the commission’s decision is positive, the personnel authority will prepare a document and issue it to the veteran. The certificate must contain the date of issue, the signature of the head and the seal of the government agency.

The certificate is registered in the accounting book and sent to the military unit, military commissariat or issued against signature to the recipient.

If the document form has become unusable, a duplicate is issued instead. Re-issuance of the certificate is made on the basis of the documents that were provided upon receipt of the original. The old form will also need to be returned.

On a note! The veteran's certificate is unlimited and valid throughout Russia.

Who is completely exempt from paying for electricity?

There are certain categories of citizens who can be completely exempt not only from paying for electricity, but in general from all utility services within the established standards. These include the following:

• Knights of the Order of Glory;
• orphans or minors left without care;
• Heroes of the USSR or the Russian Federation;
• Heroes of Socialist Labor.

In some regions, preferences may be provided to veterans of labor, World War II and combat. Details must be clarified with Social Security.

Regional preferences for veterans

Federal benefits apply to combat veterans in all regions. This includes exemption from paying land tax, state duty and receiving property deductions.

As for local preferences, they may differ depending on the subject of the Russian Federation. For example, in the Rostov region, veterans do not pay transport tax on cars with a capacity of up to 150 hp. With. Citizens can buy a single social travel ticket worth 287 rubles. (PP of the Rostov region dated December 17, 2020 No. 364). And also participate in programs to subsidize housing loans. Similar benefits are available in the Krasnodar Territory. Only the payment amounts or names of subsidy programs may differ.

List of required documents

In order to obtain any service from municipal or state authorities, in Russia you usually need to go through a lot of bureaucratic red tape, collecting various papers. Rent benefits for combat veterans were no exception.

In order to get them, you need to collect:

• a copy of an identity document (Russian Federation passport), and copies of the passports of all people registered in the house or apartment are needed;
• if children under fourteen years of age are registered in an apartment or house, it is necessary to make copies of their birth certificates;
• in the department (precinct or municipal) of the migration service, obtain an extract on family composition;
• a copy of the ID of a combat participant or veteran;
• extract from the city BTI (technical inventory bureau);
• a document that confirms the family ties between the residents of the apartment or house;
• a certificate confirming the absence of debts for housing and communal services (extract from personal account);
• a certificate of income for each family member, and it is also required to indicate sources of additional income.

Of course, the presence of certain items on this list may raise some questions, but the rules are the rules, and only by collecting all these documents does it become possible to receive benefits.
With this package of certificates and extracts, you need to contact the body authorized by the municipal or state authorities that deals with the provision of services for citizens of the Russian Federation.

In Moscow it can be a multifunctional center, in the regions there are other multifunctional centers. There they will ask you to write an application according to the provided sample and will accept the collected package of documents.

Preferential conditions for combat veterans

Veterans have the right to improved living conditions, exemption from property taxes, sanatorium and resort treatment, transportation benefits, and a military pension. Below we will look at each privilege separately.

On a note! The Federal Law “On Veterans” applies to Russian citizens and foreigners permanently residing in the country. And also for stateless persons who belong to the category of veterans. However, citizenship or residence permit is required to receive the benefit.

Improving living conditions

Combat veterans have priority rights to housing. The procedure for providing it depends on when the person registered - before or after January 1, 2005.

As an alternative, it is possible to obtain municipal housing for temporary use under a social tenancy agreement in accordance with the general queue (Article 23.2 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1995 No. 5-FZ). The grounds for the provision of premises under a social tenancy agreement are set out in Article 51 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

Additionally, veterans are entitled to priority installation of a telephone in their living space.

Privileges in the public utilities sector

Participants in combat operations are entitled to reimbursement of housing maintenance costs - 50% of all charges. However, the law does not contain restrictions on the number of family members living in the same premises with a veteran.

The calculation of the subsidy depends not only on the amount of charges for housing maintenance, but also on the status of the apartment user. For example, reimbursement of contributions for major repairs of an apartment building is provided only for premises owners. Users under a rental agreement do not make such contributions, which means they do not need to be reimbursed anything.

Exemption from property tax

A veteran is exempt from paying property taxes. The only condition is that the property is not used for business.

If the taxpayer is the owner of 2 or 3 real estate properties, then only one of them is exempt from paying tax.

Land owners have the right to reduce the tax base by the amount of the cadastral value of 600 square meters. m. (6 acres) of land. In addition to federal benefits, local tax breaks are also provided. More details about land tax rates here.

Medical and spa services

Veterans have the right to be served in the institutions to which they were assigned during their service. Reception of military personnel is carried out without a queue.

If there are medical indications, citizens have the right to priority receipt of a voucher to a sanatorium-resort organization. The duration of treatment is 18 days (Article 6.2 of the Federal Law No. 178-FZ dated July 17, 1999).

Separately, veterans are provided with prosthetics. If a person purchased a prosthetic and orthopedic product at his own expense, then he is paid compensation in the established amount. The procedure for providing IAP with prostheses is established by the Russian Federation Regulations dated 04/07/2008 No. 240.

Subjects of the Russian Federation have the right to establish a list of free medicines or the amount of subsidies for the purchase of medicines for veterans.

Transport benefits

Veterans are entitled to a range of social services. This includes free travel on commuter trains, as well as on a passenger train to the place of treatment and back (Article 6.2 of Federal Law No. 178-FZ).

Military pension

Veterans are entitled to an additional payment to their pension in the amount of 32% of the calculated amount of security (Article 45 of the Law of the Russian Federation of February 12, 1993 No. 4468-1).

This category of citizens also receives a monthly payment in the amount of 1,699 rubles, and war invalids - 3,088 rubles. (Article 23.1 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1995 No. 5-FZ).

Benefits for working combatants

Working veterans are entitled to up to 35 days of annual unpaid leave. Citizens can choose the time of rest at their own discretion.

Additionally, working combatants can undergo training at universities at the expense of the employer.

Working veterans have the right to receive a tax deduction in the amount of 500 rubles. (letter of the Ministry of Finance dated December 1, 2020 No. 03-04-06/104820).

Privileges for family members

The benefits enjoyed by a combatant also extend to his family. The living spouse and parents of a deceased veteran can take advantage of the preferences. As well as disabled persons who were supported by him and receive a pension due to the loss of a breadwinner (children, brothers).

On a note ! The list of benefits depends on the subject of the Russian Federation, the period and place of service, and whether the veteran has awards.

Support for widows of combat veterans

Social support measures for family members of deceased veterans are enshrined in law. Widows are entitled to:

• provision of housing;
• priority when joining a housing cooperative;
• priority right to purchase garden land;
• the right to receive medical care;
• compensation for the costs of maintaining the apartment and paying for housing and communal services;
• supplement to pension.

Widows of combat veterans are also entitled to assistance in the event of the death of a spouse. Payment for funeral services occurs at the expense of the state.

Social assistance for renting premises

In addition to the required UBI benefits for paying for housing and communal services, veterans are provided with additional opportunities, for example, the so-called social rental housing. According to clause 5, part 1, art. 16 Federal Law No. 5, persons who took part in hostilities receive special benefits:

• compensation for housing costs in the amount of 50%;
• payment for rent of residential premises, including current repairs;
• compensation for half the cost of major repairs of the premises in which VBD lives with his family.

Such assistance is provided regardless of which housing fund the UBD lives in. It is also claimed by family members living together with him.

Where to contact

The choice of organization depends on the type of benefit (assistance) received. For example, to receive a discount on housing maintenance or payment for housing and communal services, you need to contact the organization that calculates payments.

To receive a supplement to their pension, military personnel should contact their place of residence. In the “Addresses of centers” section you can find data on all Moscow branches.

To make dentures, you must contact the dental clinic at your place of registration.

Registration of tax benefits is carried out on the website of the Federal Tax Service. The necessary actions are performed through the taxpayer account.

Registration of benefits by a DB participant

If the holder of the status under discussion objectively needs help from the state, he should familiarize himself with how to apply for utility benefits for military veterans in 2018.

Procedure for obtaining state aid

Before receiving government assistance in the form of benefits for housing and communal services, you need to go through several stages:

1. Preparation of a set of documents. This stage can be considered the main one, since receiving a positive response depends on the completeness of the package of documents. Employees of service provider companies, based on the data provided, evaluate the possibility of assigning benefits to the applicant, so this issue must be approached as seriously as possible.
2. Submission of prepared documents for review. To do this, you need to determine which institution supplies utilities at your place of registration and contact them there.
3. Review of the information provided. Housing and communal services authorities analyze the submitted documents, check them for compliance with legal norms, and then make a decision. There is a limited period for this – 10 working days.

List of required documents

The set of documents for applying for benefits is approximately the same in all subjects of the Federation. Differences may concern only some local features.

Here is a general list of documents:

• written application;
• identification document;
• ID card of a participant in hostilities;
• certificate of residence indicating family composition;
• title document for housing;
• certificate of income of each family member;
• documents that confirm the relationship of family members with the beneficiary, in order to register assistance for family members.

How to apply for benefits correctly

The procedure for obtaining a specific benefit is determined by law. Having a veteran's ID is not a 100% guarantee of receiving government assistance. To do this, you need to meet certain requirements and submit documents to a government agency (PF of the Russian Federation, Federal Tax Service). You can apply for social payments at the MFC, on the Pension Fund’s website or through Gosuslugi.

How to appeal the denial of combat benefits

Refusal to provide a subsidy or other benefits can be done by a higher authority or in court.

To file a complaint, you will need a written refusal from the executive authority and documents confirming the person’s right to the benefit.

On a note! You can appeal the refusal of the Ministry of Defense commission to issue a certificate to the military prosecutor's office, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or in court.

Utility bills have already been paid, can I get a refund for them?

There are cases that a citizen did not know about the benefits entitled to him or had already paid utility bills, and submitted an application for compensation of costs later.

In this situation, you can receive 50% of the value of paid bills by providing all payment receipts

and by submitting an application to the Social Security Administration in the standard manner. Review of the application will also take 10 days.

By submitting documents before the 15th of the current month, compensation will be provided as early as the 1st of the next month, and after this date - from the next.

Cases of refusal to provide benefits and suspension of receipt of subsidies The reasons for suspension of payments of housing subsidies for veterans and members of their families are specified in Art. 56 section 8 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 761.

They may be:

• Utility debt exceeding 2 monthly payments.
• If a warning from utility services about debt repayment was sent to the applicant, but he never complied with this requirement.
• In case of providing false information about the income of a veteran and his family members.

If there are good reasons, documented, the body that made the decision to suspend the receipt of social support measures may again make a decision to resume payments.

For good reasons, according to Art. 58 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 761 are:

• Treatment in a hospital.
• Death of a close relative.
• Delays in payment of wages by the employer.

The reasons for refusal to provide benefits by the state are usually standard and may include the following:

• Incorrect completion of the application (unreadable or not containing all the data).
• Submission of not all required documents. If a veteran forgot to provide the required document, they will call him and ask him to deliver it.

A veteran has the right to appeal a decision to refuse to provide social benefits or suspend payments due, both administratively and in court.

So, there is nothing complicated in applying for benefits, the main thing is to carefully and clearly follow all the requirements. In the Department of Social Protection you can find information stands where the entire list of documents regarding each region is indicated

, as well as a list of benefits provided. Filling out and sending all required documents electronically or through the MFC will also significantly save time.