Benefits regarding payment of housing and communal services for certain categories of pensioners
Federal legislation provides benefits for certain categories of pensioners, depending on their status.
Benefit in the amount of 100% of the cost of services
provided for the following categories of pensioners:
- Heroes of Russia, Heroes of the USSR, full holders of the Order of Glory and members of their families (clause 1 of Article 5 of the Federal Law of January 15, 1993 No. 4301-1);
- Heroes of Socialist Labor, Heroes of Labor of the Russian Federation and full holders of the Order of Labor Glory and members of their families (clause 1 of Article 3 of the Federal Law of 01/09/1997 No. 5).
The following can receive a 50% discount on the cost of housing and communal services
- disabled war veterans (subparagraph 8 of paragraph 1 of Article 14 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1995 No. 5);
- participants of the Second World War (subparagraph 5 of paragraph 1 of Article 15 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1995 No. 5);
- combat veterans (subparagraph 5 of paragraph 1 of Article 16 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1995 No. 5);
- “Chernobyl victims” (subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 14 of the Federal Law of May 15, 1991 No. 1244-1);
- disabled people (Article 17 of the Federal Law of November 24, 1995 No. 181).
Other categories of pensioners are not entitled to a discount on the cost of consumed utilities, but can apply for a subsidy on a general basis
.
Rules for calculating compensation for pensioners
A citizen classified as a benefit recipient can use the exemption for 1 piece of property.
Even if a pensioner owns several apartments, he will be able to pay less for only one. A person has the right to choose a specific object independently. When calculating the compensation amount, regional area standards must be taken into account. They are expressed in the number of squares per 1 resident of the apartment. The standards are established by the Law of St. Petersburg No. 403-48 of 2005.
The standard is:
- for a citizen who lives alone - 36 square meters;
- if the family consists of 2 citizens - 25 square meters for each;
- when there are 3 or more persons in a family - 20 square meters per citizen.
A different standard applies to dormitories. For a single citizen this is 25 square meters, for families of 2 or more members - 18 square meters for each.
Important! It is provided that compensation is paid within the established norms. If the premises are large, you will have to pay in full for the excess portion.
Subsidy for housing and communal services for pensioners with low income
Subsidies for housing and communal services are provided based on the decision of local authorities, which independently determine the conditions for its registration
and the size of the benefit itself. And such a decision is based on the norms of federal legislation.
So, the first type of support that we will talk about is a subsidy to pay for housing and communal services for pensioners with low incomes. Specific conditions for receiving this payment are established by regional regulations.
But in most cases, to apply for such a subsidy there is only one condition - the amount of expenses for housing and communal services is 22% or more of the average monthly income
pensioner. Regions have the right to reduce this indicator.
For example, in Moscow, local residents who spend 10% or more
from the average monthly income. And in St. Petersburg - 14% of the income.
It is worth noting that a subsidy can only be applied for if the applicant has no debts for services provided. Otherwise, the pensioner will be denied a subsidy until the entire amount of the debt is fully repaid.
Accrual conditions
A citizen who owns 2 or more apartments has the right to receive benefits for only 1 of them. If a pensioner cannot arrange the payment himself for health reasons, he can draw up a power of attorney for his representative. (for example, for a social worker), who will draw up all the necessary documents.
It should be taken into account that subsidies for housing and communal services are awarded only to those Russians who have no rent debts for the previous six months. If there are debts, it is unlikely that a Russian will be able to apply for a subsidy . However, if a citizen draws up an agreement, thereby committing himself to paying off debts soon, then employees of a government agency can meet him halfway.
To receive regional preferences, it is necessary that utility bills take up a certain part of the budget (limits are determined by the legislative framework). The chances of receiving a payment increase significantly if the pensioner belongs to the low-income category.
Exemption from certain categories of payments
Some pensioners may be exempt from paying a number of payments. Most often these include payments for garbage removal or major repairs.
If the pensioner is not the owner of the property, but is simply registered in the apartment
, then he is exempt from paying contributions for major repairs and maintenance of common property (though, like any other person who does not formally own an apartment).
Compensation for contributions for major repairs is also provided to elderly pensioners. At age 70
Each apartment owner has the right to apply for compensation (refund of payment) in the amount of 50% to pay the contribution for major repairs.
If the pensioner is 80 or more years old
, and he lives in the apartment alone or with a disabled person of group I or II, then he is provided with compensation for paid capital repair fees in the amount of 100%.
Who has the right
To process compensation, the following types of income are taken into account: salary; premium; business and investment profit and the like; money received from the sale or rental of real estate; subsidies for foster or ward minors; child benefits; alimony.
The income of not only the applicant, but also those of loved ones is taken into account: husband or wife, father, mother, adoptive parents, able-bodied children. Even close relatives living separately can be taken into account - each situation is considered individually.
Income is calculated for six months. According to the current version of the resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation, the countdown of the six-month period begins six months before submitting the application. That is, if a person applies for a subsidy in December 2021, then his income is counted from December 2021 to June 2021.
It is not entirely true that you can receive subsidies only if you have no debts for housing and communal services. If you still have debts, then you can get a subsidy, but to do this you need to draw up a debt repayment schedule with your management organization and stick to it. The certified schedule must be attached to the package of documents.
The owner or tenant of the property can submit an application. Not only homeowners can apply for subsidies, but also citizens living on social rent, renting housing from private owners, members of cooperatives, as well as members of their families.
A family member can apply for a subsidy using a power of attorney certified by a notary. You can also apply for compensation for a person who serves in the army, is in prison or is undergoing compulsory treatment.
Citizens without permanent registration at the location of the housing for which they plan to receive a subsidy will not be able to receive assistance.
Regional benefits and subsidies
As noted earlier, additional benefits may be regulated by regional legislation. For example, let's take Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Moscow has a number of benefits for older people, regardless of their status
. For example, all pre-retirement and pensioners of the capital are given a 30% discount on garbage collection costs. Upon reaching the age of 80, a Muscovite is completely exempt from paying for this service. In addition, some categories of pensioners have the right to receive benefits in the amount of 50% of the cost of housing and communal services:
- Veterans of Labor;
- Combat veterans;
- home front workers;
- victims of political repression and those rehabilitated;
- participants in the city's defense.
Pensioners of St. Petersburg
also have the right to receive benefits for housing and communal services. Local pensioners who are 80 years of age or older are completely exempt from paying contributions for major repairs, provided that the housing belongs to an elderly person by right of ownership. If a pensioner is 70 years old or older, then he is given a discount on paying for major repairs in the amount of 50%. That is, these are actually the same rules that apply at the federal level.
An additional benefit is established for those pensioners who have officially worked in the northern capital for 20 years or more, provided that their total work experience is at least 40 years for women and 45 years for men. Such pensioners can receive a benefit in the amount of 50% of the cost of housing and communal services
Some regions provide pensioners with periodic payments for the purchase of dry fuel for stove heating
or one-time for gasification, including the purchase of equipment.
Who else is entitled to preferential privileges?
The following categories of citizens can count on a 50% discount when paying for housing and communal services (law of November 22, 2011 N 728-132[3]):
- Home front workers during the Great Patriotic War who worked for at least six months;
- WWII servicemen and home front workers, awarded orders and medals;
- veterans of labor and the Armed Forces;
- repressed, rehabilitated persons;
- mothers who gave birth and raised 10 children or more; awarded the Order of “Parental Glory” or received the title “Mother Heroine”;
- citizens receiving benefits who have worked in St. Petersburg for more than 20 years.
The full list of beneficiaries is contained in the Social Code of St. Petersburg.
Benefit or subsidy: what's the difference?
The terms “subsidy” and “benefits” should not be confused.
Benefit
– this is the legally established amount of the discount on the cost of provided housing and communal services. That is, the size of the benefit is displayed on the receipt, or rather, it reduces the cost of housing and utility services provided. A pensioner-beneficiary pays an amount taking into account the size of the benefit provided.
Subsidy
– this is monetary compensation in terms of the amount of paid housing and communal services. That is, the receipt of such a pensioner indicates the usual cost of housing and communal services. And upon receipt of payment, he is awarded a subsidy in the established amount. The subsidy amount arrives in the pensioner’s bank account by the 10th. If an elderly person does not want to issue a card, then he can receive a subsidy for utilities through a branch of the Russian Post.
What services are covered by the discount?
The payment reduction applies to the following types of housing and communal services:
- Water supply, sanitation.
- Heating. In its absence, compensation for transportation costs for the delivery of solid fuel is possible.
- Electricity.
- Gas supply.
Compensation will not be provided in the absence of individual meters, except in premises where there is no technical possibility of installation, which must be confirmed by an official conclusion.
How to apply for a subsidy or benefit
To apply for a benefit or subsidy, a pensioner must contact the MFC, social protection department or other responsible body
(UK, housing department, homeowners' association) with an application of the established form and a package of documents. The following must be attached to the application:
- photocopy of passport;
- a copy of the document confirming the right to the benefit;
- certificate of family composition;
- a photocopy of a document confirming ownership or rental.
If a pensioner applies for a subsidy as a low-income person, then in addition to the application it is necessary to attach a certificate of income
. When applying for compensation, the bank details of the card to which the funds will be transferred are also attached.
Benefits are established indefinitely
. And the compensation is for six months, with the exception of Moscow pensioners, for whom the subsidy is issued for 1 year.
Refusal to provide and appeal
Reasons for refusal to provide a subsidy:
- non-compliance of the citizen with the requirements of the law;
- deliberate deterioration of living conditions - registration of third parties, etc.;
- high level of income;
- large living space;
- incomplete package of documents.
Rights to housing subsidies are deprived of:
- tenants of houses, apartments from private owners;
- citizens receiving a loan under a free use agreement;
- persons receiving a life annuity under a maintenance agreement.
Refusal to provide preferences can be appealed in court.
Subsidies for pensioners are a way to improve the financial situation of citizens. There will be no problems with obtaining preferences if the applicant meets the requirements of the law and has correctly collected the package of documents.
