Among the many government programs created to provide financial assistance to Russian citizens, the provision of housing subsidies for the poor is particularly noteworthy - targeted material assistance, thanks to which the housing issue can be resolved. Unfortunately, many citizens do not understand the legal intricacies and, most importantly, have no idea that there are such types of subsidies from the state.
If you really need government assistance in solving housing problems, and your financial situation leaves much to be desired, you have the right to receive a free subsidy from the state in 2020. In this publication, we will try to advise readers on what specific housing subsidies for the poor the preferential categories of low-income citizens may qualify for.
- What is state housing subsidy?
- How to apply for and receive housing subsidies for low-income people?
- The cost of living in the subjects of the federation
- How to calculate income for classification as low-income families?
- Registration of low-income status in 2020
- Queuing up to receive housing subsidies for low-income people
- Conditions for obtaining state housing subsidies for low-income people
- Benefits for the poor on utility bills
What is state housing subsidy?
The concept of subsidies in our state is of great importance and implies free financial assistance to citizens of the Russian Federation experiencing financial difficulties for one reason or another. The obvious features that distinguish subsidies from other types of financing include the following provisions: financing of citizens on a free basis; partial financial assistance; strict target orientation; budget financing.
A variety of forms of subsidies provide real opportunities for citizens of our state to improve their quality of life. State housing subsidies are aimed primarily at partially compensating the costs of purchasing housing . Although the term “subsidy” also means, for example, benefits for utility bills, rent, etc.
Who can receive a subsidy for housing and communal services and who cannot
The general rule is as follows: persons who spend more than 22% of the total family income on utility bills can receive financial assistance. In some regions, a different cost threshold is set - from 10 to 17%.
The following can apply for a subsidy:
- home owners;
- employers;
- living in municipal apartments.
An additional basis for the application is compliance of the total area of housing with the standards established in the region. If the area is larger, you will not be able to receive a subsidy.
How to apply for and receive housing subsidies for low-income people?
To apply for a state housing subsidy, it is necessary that a citizen or family be recognized as low-income; according to the law, such citizens can include both citizens living alone and families whose average income is considered below the generally established minimum subsistence level.
At the same time, there are a number of nuances that provide for the requirements for recognizing a citizen or family as poor. For example, the degrees of kinship relationships and the procedure for their observance have been established, so married couples whose marriage is registered, but whose wife and husband do not live together and also do not run a common household, do not have the right to apply for housing subsidies for the poor.
The Housing Code of the Russian Federation sets the parameters for assessing the income of single citizens or families, as well as the parameters for assessing the property they own (movable and immovable). At the same time, the laws of the constituent entities of the federation establish their own procedure, according to which citizens can be classified as low-income people who are entitled to government subsidies. The formula for calculating income and property in different regions of Russia may differ; somewhere data from Rosstat is used, somewhere the residence qualification is used in the formulas.
The cost of living in the subjects of the federation
Officially established subsistence levels may vary from one federal subject to another. The cost of living is recalculated quarterly and determined for three main categories of citizens: able-bodied persons, children and pensioners.
In order for a particular family to be registered in the low-income category, it is necessary to accurately compare the family’s income with the subsistence level calculated using the formula for the past quarter specifically for their region. Let us repeat that in some regions of the federation such calculations are carried out using simple formulas, and in some places you will need to calculate the cost of living taking into account the age and status of each family member. In this case, you may need the help of specialists, however, most often, the information you need will be enough. which can be found on the Internet for your region of residence. Typically, information on the cost of living is published in open sources and on official websites by local regional authorities, social protection services, or employment services; by law, this information must be updated quarterly.
Determining the cost of living
In each subject of the federation, the level of subsistence level is not the same with regard to certain categories of persons. Today, pensioners, children and able-bodied people fall into three different categories. When a decision is made to register a family as low-income, the existing cost of living in a particular region is also determined. In some regions of Russia, the calculation is performed by comparing the cost of living and the income level of a particular family.
In other regions of Russia, such calculations are made taking into account the status and age of each family member. In this case, the calculation is based on the subsistence level of separately able-bodied persons, pensioners, etc.
Taking into account the fact that data on the cost of living are published by local authorities, as well as social protection authorities and territorial branches of employment centers on their official websites, the above calculations are quite simple to make. The information that serves as the basis for such calculations is updated and published without fail on a quarterly basis.
How to calculate income for classification as low-income families?
The average income per family member must be compared with the size of the subsistence minimum calculated using the appropriate formula (its own for the subject of the federation), and only after reconciling income with the subsistence minimum can a family be recognized as low-income. The legislation establishes the procedure for determining income and calculating family income, as well as the income of single citizens.
In accordance with regional laws, joint family income is taken into account for a particular period preceding the time of citizens’ application. The legislation also defines the types of income, the indicators of which are important for the provision of financial assistance by the state.
Let's take an example of calculating family income for classification as low-income in Moscow - in the capital, the “property security” indicator is legally defined, which is calculated using the formula:
Property security = Value of movable and immovable property of all family members + Income of all family members for 20 years.
Family income is calculated by multiplying the sum of the average monthly income of all family members by 240 (the number of months in 20 years). In this case, the average monthly family income is defined as the sum of the average monthly income of all family members for two full calendar years preceding the year of application for classification as low-income families.
The value obtained from the formula is compared with the cost of housing required by standards in Moscow (18 square meters per person).
Subsidy for Housing and Communal Services Who is Entitled 2020 Moscow Region Amount Table
The recipient has the right to choose any bank that he likes, so here it is worth following only one piece of advice: choose a bank with an extensive network of branches, as this will give you the opportunity to choose if you need to apply for the amount in this account. This is a particular convenience for pensioners, because they can use the account into which their pension is recalculated to receive a subsidy.
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To calculate subsidies, the cost of living established by Decree of the Government of the Moscow Region No. 1116/46 dated December 25, 2020 for the main socio-demographic groups in the Moscow Region for the third quarter of 2020 is used.
Registration of low-income status in 2020
If, as a result of calculations, it turns out that the average income of a family or a separately living citizen allows one to qualify for the status of the poor, you can safely contact the social protection authorities to obtain the status of the poor. In this case, you need to draw up an application and collect the necessary package of documentation, the exact list of which can be found out directly when contacting the social protection department, but most often the list of documents required to register the status of low-income people and subsequently receive a state housing subsidy includes: an application; passport(s); marriage certificate; child's birth certificate; TIN certificate(s); documents confirming income (salary certificates, pensions, scholarships); documents for property owned by different family members (cadastral certificate and certificate of ownership of real estate, if available); Housing office certificate regarding registration.
The decision is made by the authorized bodies within 10-30 days, after which it is possible to assign the status of the poor.
Subsidies for utility bills in 2020
- contact the government agency and find out the list of required documentation. Additional papers will be requested individually;
- submit documents, draw up an application;
- wait for an answer;
- receive funds from the bank in cash or to a current account.
Some time ago, only certain privileged categories of citizens, the poor, and so on could receive assistance for communal services. Over time, additional conditions have arisen that have changed the definition of who is eligible for benefits.
Queuing up to receive housing subsidies for low-income people
And so, you or your family are classified as low-income, and you have a desire to take advantage of government subsidies for the purchase of an apartment, now you can register to improve your living conditions as part of the program for receiving housing subsidies for the poor. If your situation meets one of these conditions:
- none of the family members uses housing under a social tenancy agreement;
- none of the family members owns the residential premises;
- the housing in which a citizen or low-income family lives is recognized as unsafe;
- a low-income family uses housing under a social tenancy agreement or owns living space by right of ownership, but the minimum space standards per person are not met.
- members of a low-income family live together with a seriously ill person suffering from a chronic disease;
Taking into account the presence of at least one of the signs and recognition of the family as low-income, a citizen or family can apply to the state social protection authorities to be placed in line to receive a housing subsidy for the low-income.
Who is eligible for the subsidy?
Financial benefits are provided by the state to low-income citizens, as well as members of their families, including families where the ex-husband does not pay alimony, at the place of permanent residence. The following can receive a subsidy:
- users of premises located in the state or municipal housing stock;
- owners of residential premises;
- tenants of residential premises who have executed a rental agreement;
- members of a housing cooperative, including a housing construction cooperative;
A subsidy for utility services can only be provided if the recipient has no debt to pay for housing and communal services or if there is an appropriately executed agreement for its repayment. Funds are transferred by the state to the bank account of citizens or delivered to the place of residence of citizens by communication organizations if the recipient, for health reasons, is unable to open a bank account and use it.
The procedure for registration and payment of subsidies for the payment of utilities is regulated by the Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Article 159), the Rules for the provision of subsidies for the payment of residential premises and utilities, approved by Government Decree No. 761 of December 14, 2005. and relevant legislative documents of self-government bodies of a separate subject of the Russian Federation.
It is necessary to understand that the housing and communal services subsidy represents financial assistance - despite the fact that citizens can manage the money received into their account independently, housing and utilities must be paid in full, otherwise the provision of the subsidy may be suspended, in some cases it was stopped altogether.
Conditions for obtaining state housing subsidies for low-income people
A positive decision, as well as a refusal on an application for a housing subsidy for the poor, is made by the social protection service within a 30-day period. In particular, the reasons for refusal may be a lack of documents provided, as well as unreliability of the information provided. In this case, it is possible to appeal the refusal in court.
After a positive decision is made, the applicant is provided with written confirmation and assigned a new number. There are certain categories of citizens who may be entitled to an extraordinary right to improve their living conditions. For example, these are people seriously ill with chronic diseases who are forced to live in the same living space with other family members. Persons with the right to receive extraordinary state housing subsidies for low-income people in 2020 also include citizens whose housing is not subject to reconstruction and may pose a danger to life and health.
List of required documents
- Identity document of the applicant and his family members (copy).
- Certificate of family composition (original) or a document confirming the cohabitation of family members with the applicant.
- Copies of documents confirming relationship - marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.
- A certificate of family income is issued separately for each family member for the previous 6 months - pensions, wages, unemployment benefits, child benefits, income from business activities, etc. are taken into account.
Adult family members who cannot provide the relevant documents must provide a document confirming the lack of income, for example, a certificate of absence of a scholarship, a certificate of absence of wages indicating the reason for its absence, etc.
- Documents for housing (copy of certificate of ownership, inheritance agreement, rental agreement, etc.).
- A certificate of absence of debt for utility services, issued by the month in which the applicant applies for a subsidy.
- Bank account number and bank details for transferring funds.
Benefits for the poor on utility bills
The Housing Code of the Russian Federation defines specific benefits for low-income citizens and families, implying a reduction in regular payments for utilities and rent. Benefits can be taken advantage of when a citizen/family’s spending on utility costs exceeds the 22% barrier to income. State subsidies for utility bills are provided to:
- persons living in private housing under commercial lease agreements;
- persons living in their own residential premises by right of ownership;
- users of residential premises of municipal/state housing stock.
- persons living in apartments of housing cooperatives;
The decision on subsidies and the direct assignment of benefits and subsidies for the payment of utilities and rent are the responsibility of local authorities. For questions about reducing tariffs, low-income citizens should contact local housing departments, and to apply for subsidies, contact social security authorities. The decision to grant benefits to the poor for utility bills is made by social protection authorities within 10 days . In the event of a possible refusal that was not clearly motivated, the applicant has the right to appeal the refusal in court.
The main documents for obtaining benefits for utility bills are: passport; TIN; certificate of family composition; documents on the income of all family members; documents on the right to residential premises (rent, ownership); BTI certificate, etc. To clarify the full list of documents, you must contact the social protection service. Many people do not know their rights to benefits or housing subsidies for the poor, therefore Federal Law No. 324-FZ of November 21, 2011 “On free legal assistance in the Russian Federation” provides for free consultation of citizens on any issues, including those related to the provision of government assistance to the poor.
Registration procedure
How to apply for a subsidy to pay for utilities for low-income people? To do this, you should contact your local social security office. You will need to submit an Application for a subsidy to pay for housing and utilities and a collected package of documents to this body. You can do this in several ways:
- At a personal appointment at the SZN department or multifunctional center.
- Through the post office.
- Using the State Services portal.
The list of documentation for participants in the housing program to receive subsidies for low-income families will need the following:
- Passports of all family members.
- Birth certificates for children under 14 years of age.
- Employment history.
- Insurance certificate.
- A document that certifies the applicant’s ownership of the residential premises.
- Extract from home book indicating the number of people in the family.
- Certificate of income for the entire family.
- A paper confirming the absence of debts to housing and communal services.
- Certificate from BTI.
- Certificate of family composition.
- A bank statement from the personal account to which compensation for utilities will be transferred to the poor.
- A document that certifies a person’s right to benefits.
Employees of the social security authority review the Application for a subsidy to pay for housing and utilities and check the documents within ten days. If everything is in order, then they open a personal file. If it is necessary to provide any other documents, they send a request to the applicant.
The decision on the application is made by a specially created commission from the social protection department. When considering, it takes into account, among other things, the type of living space - a private house or apartment, the area of the premises for each family member, the social status of the applicant.
Result of consideration An application for a subsidy to pay for housing and utilities can be either positive or negative. If the commission does not satisfy the citizen’s request, then it is obliged to explain in writing the reason for the refusal.
