The authority to provide the supplement was assumed by the Fund starting this year, in addition to the federal pension supplement already being paid. Both measures are aimed at preventing retirees' income from falling below the established level.
Today, the Social Fund provides the regional pension supplement in 28 regions of the country. It is paid in regions where the subsistence rate is above the national average. In regions where the subsistence rate is lower than the federal level, retirees receive the federal social supplement. Both supplements are granted proactively, without an application or submission of any documents, and are delivered together with the pension.
The regional supplement became the 71st measure transferred to the Social Fund over the past few years. Previously, the Social Fund assumed responsibility for a number of other payouts and benefits, including compensating disabled individuals for the cost of their compulsory motor third-party liability insurance policies, payouts to victims of radiation exposure and some benefits and compensations for the families of military personnel. Most of those measures used to be provided by regional authorities and departments.
With the transition to the Social Fund, the benefits became simpler to receive. Electronic applications have been launched, and proactive assignment has been introduced for a number of services. The fund has relieved citizens of the need to collect documents and now verifies eligibility for benefits on its own, using data from information systems. The timeframes for granting payouts have also been cut.
Currently, the fund provides 72 benefits that were previously controlled by regions and other organizations.