Children of the state: what payments and benefits are due in Russia at the birth of a child to a single mother

A fair number of divorces, as well as the desire of many modern women to give birth to a child, as they say, “for themselves,” leads to the fact that currently in our country about a third of families are single mothers. The position of a single mother gives a woman the right to receive material support from the state, which is characterized by both one-time and long-term benefits, as well as many benefits and privileges in various areas of everyday life. The editors of FAN asked themselves what kind of child benefits single mothers are entitled to, what factors their size depends on, what benefits single mothers are entitled to claim in 2021, and, first of all, how one can obtain the status of a single mother, confirmed by the state. Yuri Kapshtyk, talks about this and much more .

photo from the personal archive of Yuri Kapshtyk /

Single mother status in 2021

There is no single legal act that would define the status of “single mother”. In different documents you can find several similar formulations - “single-parent family”, “single mother”, “single parent”, etc. Their use depends on the scope of application. For example, according to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, a single mother is considered to be a mother who raises a child without a father. In this case, a man may be recorded in documents, but, for example, avoid education, be deprived of legal capacity or parental rights.

Another definition is given by the Ministry of Finance: a child of a single mother has no father at all, has gone missing, died, his name is not reflected in the documents or is included there according to the words of the mother. This is the approach used in social security and is called a single mother:

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• A woman who gave birth to a child out of wedlock, whose paternity has not been established - by a court decision or voluntarily;
• A woman who gave birth to a child during marriage or within 300 days after divorce, if the former spouse has challenged his paternity in court;
• A woman who has adopted a child outside of marriage.

Who isn't a single mother?

In turn, the following are not recognized as a single mother or single parent:

• A woman raising a child on her own after a divorce. She may or may not receive alimony - she is not entitled to state support;
• A woman who gave birth to a child within 300 days after the marriage was dissolved/invalid. In this case, the man is recorded as the father of the child, even if there is no actual relationship between them;
• A woman whose paternity of a child has been established by a court or voluntarily. In this case, the father may live separately and not contribute to the upbringing;
• A widow whose husband died less than 300 days ago. In this case, the deceased spouse is registered as the father of the child by default.

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If a citizen is still recognized as a single person, the registry office issues her a special certificate in form No. 25. A dash is placed on the child’s birth certificate or the father’s name is entered according to the woman’s words. In the future, these papers will be required by government agencies and at the place of employment as confirmation of her status.

Maternal capital

By virtue of Art. 2 of the Federal Law of December 29, 2006 No. 256 FZ “On additional measures of state support for families with children,” maternal (family) capital is federal budget funds transferred to the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the implementation of additional measures of state support related to the birth or adoption of a child .

These government support measures can be aimed at improving living conditions, obtaining education, social adaptation and integration into society of disabled children, as well as increasing the level of pensions.

Let us note that the right to receive maternity capital is primarily granted to women with Russian citizenship:

• those who gave birth (adopted) a second child starting from January 1, 2007;
• those who gave birth (adopted) a third child or subsequent children starting from January 1, 2007, if they had not previously exercised the right to additional measures of state support;
• those who gave birth (adopted) their first child starting from January 1, 2020.

At the same time, male citizens of the Russian Federation who are:

• the only adoptive parents of the second, third child or subsequent children who have not previously exercised the right to additional measures of state support, if the court decision on adoption entered into legal force starting from January 1, 2007;
• the only adoptive parents of the first child who have not previously exercised the right to additional measures of state support, if the court decision on adoption entered into legal force starting from January 1, 2021.

Fathers (adoptive parents) (regardless of Russian citizenship) can receive maternity capital in the following cases:

• death of the mother or declaration of her death;
• deprivation of the mother of parental rights in relation to the child, in connection with whose birth the right to maternity capital arose;
• a mother committing an intentional crime against her child (children), related to crimes against the person and entailing deprivation of parental rights or restriction of parental rights in relation to the child (children);
• cancellation of the adoption of a child in connection with whose adoption the right to maternity capital arose.

As additional measures to support families with children, some regions provide for the payment of regional maternity capital. It is paid at the expense of regional and local budgets (see laws of St. Petersburg dated December 6, 2011 No. 810 151 “On maternal (family) capital in St. Petersburg”, Moscow region dated January 12, 2006 No. 1/2006 OZ “ On measures of social support for families and children in the Moscow region”, etc.).

At the same time, receiving a certificate for regional maternity capital does not depend on whether federal maternity capital has been received.

Payments and benefits in 2021 for single mothers

It is important to understand that in Russia a separate allowance is not paid to a single mother in 2021 - the state provides all incentives and benefits on a general basis, for mothers of any status. Specifically, we are talking about the following payments:

• Maternity benefit. Depends on the mother’s income for the last two years or on the minimum wage.
• Benefit for women registered with medical institutions. institutions in early pregnancy. Amounts to 708.23 rubles.
• One-time payment at the birth of a child. The amount is fixed - 18,886.32 rubles.
• Regular payments. Until the child reaches 1.5 years old, the mother receives 40% of average earnings monthly, but not less than 7,082.85 rubles for the first and subsequent children.

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Single mothers receive other types of payments - monthly or quarterly - from regional budgets (more on this a few points below).

Additional support for single mothers

In addition to child benefits for single mothers, the state also provides support in other, non-material forms. For example, the group of social benefits and compensations includes:

• Places in kindergarten. A single mother has the right to priority enrollment of her child in the group, as well as a reduction in parental fees;
• Help in treatment . The state is ready to help with the purchase of medications - to pay their cost in full or in part, to provide the services of a massage therapist at the children's clinic;

The remaining benefits do not directly depend on the woman’s status, but are available to low-income families. If, due to low income, a single mother and child fall into this category, they may qualify for some more incentives:

• Subsidy for utilities . Expressed as a percentage by which the monthly payment for housing and communal services is reduced. Guaranteed for families whose utility costs exceed the established norm;
• Free dairy kitchen . A family recognized as needy receives high-quality and varied special food.

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Separately, it is worth highlighting a double tax deduction - this compensation is provided specifically for a single parent. You can save 2,800 rubles on tax monthly if a single person is raising one or two children, and 6,000 rubles if you have three.

Free dairy kitchen: how accessible is it for a single mother?

The opportunity to receive free dairy products at the dairy kitchen is one of the social support measures. Not everyone can enjoy this privilege. The list of persons, standards for issuing special food, as well as the list of organizations supplying dairy products for dairy kitchens are determined by local authorities.

Recipients of special food usually include children from large and low-income families, bottle-fed babies, disabled children and other categories of people in need. Local authorities can also grant pregnant and nursing mothers the right to receive special food.

If a single mother in her region of residence falls into these categories, she must not only confirm her right to special food (for example, document the status of a low-income family), but also regularly update her prescription at the medical institution where the baby is registered.

Thus, not all single mothers can count on free food in a dairy kitchen, and the process of obtaining the right to a dairy kitchen is quite labor-intensive. But there are also many benefits from receiving such government support: children receive high-quality, varied and fresh food, and mothers can use the saved funds for other priority needs for the child.

Benefits and allowances for a mother of many children

In the Russian Federation, a mother who raises three or more children who have not reached adulthood is recognized as having many children. To be considered single, such a woman must give birth to each child out of wedlock. This is an important nuance: if a mother with many children gave birth to at least one of three (or more) children while in a marital relationship, she will not receive a “preferential” status.

Basically, single mothers with many children receive the same payments as single mothers. The amounts vary - those with many children are entitled to more support. What specific benefits are we talking about:

• Permanent. Paid until the youngest child reaches adulthood. The size of the payment depends on the region - for example, in Moscow, mothers are paid 1,315 rubles to compensate for the rising cost of living.
• Temporary. If a mother of many children does not work, the payment is 7,082.85 rubles , if she is on maternity leave - 40% of the salary, but less than the base amount. This benefit is paid until the child turns 1.5 years old;

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In addition to all-Russian benefits and allowances, single mothers are encouraged with one-time payments in the regions. In Moscow the rates are as follows:

• Benefit. It is paid once for the third and subsequent children in the amount of 14,500 rubles, and for triplets - 50,000 rubles at once;
• Compensation. Rely on mothers on an ongoing basis to reimburse the costs of communication and the purchase of school uniforms.

The remaining benefits are of an intangible nature. At the federal level, single mothers with many children are entitled to:

• Discount on payment for housing and communal services. Its percentage depends on the number of children: for families with 3 children, the cost in fat is reduced by 30%, with 4 - by 50%, and with 7 or more - fully reimbursed;
• Free food. We are talking about set breakfasts and lunches that children from large families can receive at school;
• Places in kindergarten. Priority in the queue always goes to families with many children, and such families are not charged parental fees;
• Free pass. Valid for all children and one parent on all types of public transport;
• Free treatment. The state will provide children with medicines and trips to health centers (at least one trip every two years);

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Non-material benefits are also provided to women at the regional level. So, in Moscow, maternity hospitals provide sets of underwear, and later they offer free visits to the circus, zoo, etc. with your child(ren). municipal institutions of the city.

Comments: 6

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: Klavdiya Treskova

Consultant, author Popovich Anna

Financial author Olga Pikhotskaya

1. Oksana
   10.20.2021 at 06:14 I gave birth to 3 children and didn’t receive anything for him
   Reply ↓
2. Tatiana
   06/03/2020 at 10:58

   I am disabled group 2 indefinitely. My daughter cannot work because she takes care of me and for this they transfer me 1,200 rubles. Now she is pregnant. What benefits for pregnancy and childbirth are she entitled to?

   Reply ↓
   Tatyana
   06/03/2020 at 10:59

   Single daughter

   Reply ↓

3. Anna Popovich
   06/03/2020 at 15:54

   Dear Tatyana, your question is very comprehensive, and in order to take into account what types of benefits your daughter is entitled to, you need to understand many nuances: from the presence of work experience in principle and paid contributions to the Social Insurance Fund, ending with the course of pregnancy. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the “Maternity Benefits” section on the State Services website or seek substantive advice from the territorial division of the Social Security Administration.

   Reply ↓

Labor benefits

Since a single mother is a priori the only breadwinner in the family, the Labor Code of the Russian Federation reserves special rights and benefits for her (by the way, these also apply to single fathers):

• A single parent who is raising a child under 14 years of age cannot be laid off, fired when there is a change in management, or deprived of a position due to disciplinary sanctions;
• In the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of the organization, the single parent must be provided with another place of employment. Responsibility for this lies with the hiring organization that is about to lay off its employee;
• All parents pay for caring for a sick child. At the same time, the amount of benefit for a single mother depends on the type of treatment. If a child requires hospital stay, payments will be determined by length of service. For outpatient treatment, the benefit is paid in full for the first 10 days, then half;
• For parents with children under 7 years of age, sick leave is paid without restrictions, with children older - the first 15 days are paid;
• A single parent has the right to take leave at his own expense at any time. The maximum duration of such leave is 14 days;
• A single parent with a child under 5 years of age cannot be required to work on weekends and holidays, overtime or night work;
• A mother raising a child under 14 years of age has the right to switch to part-time work at any time.

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Single mothers also have preferences when they get a job. The fact is that employers cannot refuse to hire them due to the presence of minor children. And if the candidacy is nevertheless rejected, single mothers must clearly explain the reason for the refusal.

Single mother's benefit in 2021 in Moscow

Unlike other regions of the Russian Federation, in the capital single mothers receive their own payments, intended only for them.

Including:

• Child benefit. Monthly is 15,840 for a child under 3 years old, 6,336 for a child from 3 to 16 years old, 12,672 for a disabled child under 18 or 23 years old;
• Inflation compensation. For food for a child under 3 years old - 713 rubles. To reimburse expenses due to the rising cost of living - 792 rubles, if the mother receives a monthly allowance. If you don’t receive it - 317 rubles.

Benefits for single mothers in Moscow
An additional requirement for single mothers who seek to receive these benefits is permanent registration in Moscow.

Adoption benefits

Not only two-parent families, but in some cases also Russian women without a husband can count on adopting a child. If a woman took a child from an orphanage, she will receive the same preferences and benefits as a single mother. But, since such women often do not belong to low-income families, this category of families does not qualify for relief.

Exceptions arise if the child’s parents have died, and the child is given up for adoption to not very wealthy or elderly relatives.

Child benefit by September 1

Support for families with children in 2021 will be provided from the regional budget. Conditions for receiving benefits may vary depending on the region. Payment is provided for the purchase of school uniforms and stationery.

By September 1, 2021, families with school-age children will be given 10,000 rubles . This statement was made by President Vladimir Putin in April of this year.

Large families will also be able to receive an additional 3,000 rubles

At the same time, we should not forget about other assistance to families with children. Thus, from January 1, 2021, a new benefit for low-income families for children from 3 to 7 years old is in force in the amount of half the subsistence minimum per child for the 2nd quarter of the previous year.

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Preferential use of the pool for children with one parent

In order to preserve and strengthen the health of children, regional and municipal authorities may provide preferential conditions when paying for the cost of physical education, health and sports services. But only in the case when these services are provided by institutions that are part of the state system of physical education and sports.

For example, such benefits are provided for in paragraph 7 of Art. 32 of the Law “On Social Support for Families with Children in the City of Moscow” dated November 23, 2005 No. 60. You can find out about the benefits provided in the field of physical education and sports on the official websites of sports institutions - on the website of the Moscow Department of Sports in the section “Preferential Services”, preferential benefits are listed categories of citizens who have the opportunity to receive physical education, health and sports services at the Olympic Village sports complex (use of swimming pools and a gym, visits to children's swimming sections). Beneficiaries include children from large and low-income families, orphans and disabled children. To obtain subscriptions on preferential terms, you must contact the administration of the sports complex with documents.

How to apply for benefits for single mothers?

To receive one-time and monthly payments, you must follow the following algorithm of actions.

1. Collect the necessary documentation, the package of which must correspond to the established list;
2. Submit the collected documents to the authorized bodies;
3. Before accepting a package of papers, representatives of a social institution make sure that they are complete and correctly filled out, and then the authenticity of the specified information is checked;
4. Receive benefits due within the prescribed time frame.

A single mother can apply for benefits directly or a person representing her, in which case a notarized power of attorney confirming the right to act on behalf of the sole guardian will be required. Document processing is carried out by social protection authorities located in close proximity to the residential address. It is also possible to submit an application at centers that carry out multifunctional activities. The benefit is issued within 10 days, after which money transfers are made.

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A procedure for informing about future pensions has been developed

From 2022, the Pension Fund will begin notifying citizens about the expected amount of the old-age insurance pension and pension savings.

Notifications will be sent once every 3 years to men over 45 years of age and women over 40 years of age. Information will be available:

• in your personal account on the government services portal;
• when applying to the territorial body of the Pension Fund.

It is expected that such a mechanism will allow citizens to assess in advance the formation of their future pension rights and, if necessary, take actions to increase them.

Documents for applying for benefits

• Applicant's passport;
• Child's birth certificate;
• Certificate from the registry office (form No. 25);
• Certificate of income (form 2-NDFL);
• Certificate of family composition;
• Extract from the work book, if the applicant works;
• Certificate from the employment center, if the applicant is unemployed;
• Statement of family composition and missing debts.

The list presented is expanded. Depending on the incentive or benefit, fewer documents may be needed (for example, for a one-time benefit for the birth of a child, a 2-NDFL certificate is not needed).

How to get benefits for a single mother?

1. Collect the package of papers requested for registration of this manual:
2. Contact the social security office at the place of registration or the hiring organization;
3. Submit an application in writing and receive the benefits, allowances or compensation due.

The social security authorities will inform you in detail about what payments a single mother is entitled to and how to apply for them. It would be useful to clarify the list of documents - changes are constantly being made to the current legal norms.

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Can I obtain single mother status if my husband leaves me?

It's a difficult question. If the child is registered with her husband, then the woman does not have the right to state support. She can apply for help from the state only if the child does not officially have a father.

The only case when a former spouse can become a single mother is when the father has died or lost parental rights. Roughly speaking, you can file for deprivation of his rights if he does not intend to participate in the child’s life.

A single mother with a living ex-husband, if he is recognized:

• unknown absent;
• incompetent.

You can also try to become a single mother if the father:

• due to health reasons cannot support a child;
• is serving his sentence.

But in this case, it is necessary to first deprive the father of parental rights.

In all other cases, if the father does not challenge his right to the baby, the child is considered born into a complete family. In this case, the mother is divorced and not a single mother, even if the father has no involvement in his life.

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I have the status of a single mother and I got married, will my status remain?

The Supreme Court ruled that the status of a single mother remains after her marriage if the new husband has not adopted a child in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 51 of the Family Code.

After marriage, a woman has the right to remain a single mother. But to take advantage of benefits at work, you will need to notify your employer.

How can I apply for benefits if I live in one city but am registered in another?

If previously it was necessary to receive benefits and submit documents for it only at the place of registration, now this rule has been changed. Now you can apply for benefits at your place of stay and actual residence. The benefit depends more on regional regulations.

Can I apply for benefits as a single mother if I adopted a child alone?

Yes, this is quite possible. If a woman independently, alone, adopts a child, then she can register and receive payments from the state as a single mother.

Difficulties will arise when a woman adopts, but there should be no difficulties with acquiring single status.

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Does a single mother get free housing?

The status of a single mother in itself does not give her the opportunity to count on free housing. There is no such privilege in the law. But in combination with other conditions (for example, low income, a certain age of the mother, etc.), a single mother can participate in special housing programs.

For example, she can take part in the Young Family program. To do this, she must be no more than 35 years old, and she must prove that her family needs improved living conditions.

The program does not provide free housing, but allows you to receive partial financing for the purchase from the local budget. At the same time, the program participant must have his own funds or a source of their receipt to make the mandatory down payment.

In addition, to solve housing problems, a single mother can try to get on the waiting list for social housing. There are also a number of conditions, the fulfillment of which is checked when placing a single mother on the social housing queue (the presence of a disability in the mother or child; a diagnosis of an illness of a family member confirmed by a medical institution that is unacceptable when living together in the same living space; unsuitability of housing for habitation).