Starting next year, individuals who act as caregivers for loved ones and family members will start verifying such care for pension purposes under new rules. These periods of care will need to be reported before they begin, rather than afterward, as is currently the case. By the end of next year, Russians will also have to report care that was provided during 2026 or earlier in order for it to be factored into their pension calculations.
Today, periods of care for individuals aged 80 and older, as well as children with disabilities and individuals with Disability Group I is counted toward the caregiver's pension record upon application that has to be submitted to the Social Fund after the relevant period expires. Starting next year, the procedure will change: the application shall be submitted when the care begins and subsequently renewed once every 12 months if the care continues over a prolonged period.
The consent of the person receiving the care will also have to be attached. Currently, such consent is required only if the caregiver and the dependent live separately.
To make submitting the consent and the care application itself more convenient, starting next year, they will be accepted not only at client offices of the Social Fund, but also in the electronic form on the Gosuslugi Portal. Additionally, multifunctional centers will also be accepting those documents.
The current procedure for counting periods of care for incapacitated individuals toward the caregiver's employment record remains in effect till the end of 2026. Nevertheless, according to the newly adopted amendments, in order for this time to be credited when registering for a pension, the corresponding periods shall be reported by the end of 2027, also via an application to the Social Fund. Starting in 2028, it will no longer be possible to verify periods of care that occurred prior to 2027.
Also remember that starting from 2027, just as now, any working-age individual can provide care and have it counted toward their pension. Keep in mind, however, that for these periods to be included in the employment record, the caregiver shall have at least one day of official employment either before or after the period of care.