Labor Department seeks adjustment in computation of sickness and maternity benefits
In a significant move, President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that increases maternity benefits for female students in Russia, making the amount equivalent to 100% of the regional minimum living wage, as of July. This change applies to women studying full-time in professional educational institutions, universities, organisations for additional professional education, and scientific organisations.
The minimum benefit for maternity and childbirth leave remains at 103,300 rubles, while the maximum benefit for 140 days in 2025 stands at 794,300 rubles. The benefits are given regardless of whether the students receive a scholarship or not, and regardless of whether the institutions they attend are on a budget or not.
The Social Fund of Russia started paying maternity and childbirth benefits to female students from September 1. If the insurers are different, benefits are only paid by the one the employee is engaged with at the time of the insured event.
The benefits are calculated based on the average earnings of the citizen over the previous two calendar years. The change in benefits does not seem to affect the minimum and maximum benefit amounts as stated earlier.
Lyudmila Chikmacheva, quoted by RBK, believes that a single benefit would help mitigate injustice towards young mothers. However, the initiative to implement a single benefit is currently at the stage of "sketching changes in legislation" and "calculating the financial component" to understand its potential impact on the budget of the Social Fund.
It's important to note that this change in benefits does not seem to be related to the ongoing "sketching changes in legislation" and "calculating the financial component" related to the single benefit initiative. The benefits for an employee working in multiple locations are paid for each place of work, as per current rules, if the same insurers have been worked for in the past two years.
The proposal that the individual care contribution should be paid instead of the current regulation based on the sum of two insurance bases for social security contributions was presented by the Swiss Federal Council, but this does not seem to be related to the changes in benefits for Russian students.
In conclusion, the increase in maternity benefits for Russian students is a significant step towards supporting young mothers in their educational pursuits, providing them with financial security during a crucial period of their lives.
