In the course of its working visit to Smolensk Region, Sergey Chirkov, Chairman of the Social Fund, signed a cooperation agreement with Governor Vasily Anokhin. The document defines new stages of joint work in key areas, including the development of the pension and welfare systems in the region.
"As the year begins, the Social Fund faces new tasks that we will also work on in Smolensk Region," said Sergey Chirkov, Chairman of the Social Fund of Russia. "The agreement we signed with the regional government will allow us to accelerate the implementation of these plans, use available resources more efficiently and overall improve the coordination of joint actions across all designated areas."
In the context the agreement, the Fund's representatives and regional authorities will run joint events and convene working groups to exchange experience and best practices, as well as develop new solutions for servicing the populace.
"The tasks set by our President to ensure the well-being and a dignified life for citizens are being carried out by the regional Government and the Social Fund of Russia in close interaction, ensuring that the residents of Smolensk feel genuine care from the government," Governor Anokhin said. "All our efforts are aimed at making the provided services as accessible and convenient as possible across all municipalities. I am positive that our cooperation will gain a new momentum and develop quickly and effectively in the interest of the residents and Smolensk Region."
During the visit, Sergey Chirkov also inspected the operations of the Fund's client offices. On top of that, Head of the Social Fund visited the Directorate responsible for the operations of the unified Social Fund call center, which ensures uninterrupted remote service not only for residents of Smolensk Region but also for millions of citizens in Moscow and Moscow Region.
The Smolensk branch of the Fund serves as a competence center for organizing the work of the call center's first-line operators and performs other functions at the federal level. The Fund's staff in the region provide round-the-clock support: in 2025 alone, first-line operators processed more than 2.5 million requests, while the second line handled over 1.36 million calls from residents of the three regions. Furthermore, the average waiting time for a second line operator response is just 28 seconds, while citizens rate the service level at 4.7 out of 5 points.
A meeting with veterans of the special military operation to discuss current issues regarding their welfare was a special focal point. Their attention was on topics such as processing pension and welfare benefits, treatment and rehabilitation at the Social Fund's centers, and prosthetics options. While talking to the veterans, Sergey Chirkov emphasized that the Fund is guided by a systematic approach in its work with SMO servicemen, strives to maintain constant contact with them, and responds promptly to incoming service applications.
During the trip, Sergey Chirkov presented two residents of the Smolensk Region with certificates for specialized automobiles. They are provided as a form of insurance for employees who have sustained a disability due to a workplace injury. The cars are outfitted with specialized control systems to fit each driver's needs.
There was also an official ceremony to present the 80,000th maternity capital certificate in Smolensk Region. The document was handed over to the family of a serviceman, whose baby girl was born in December.
The visit concluded with a meeting with the management of the Social Fund's regional branch, where the results of the past year were reviewed and plans for 2026 were discussed.