There are more than 12 million persons with disabilities in the Russian Federation. In order to respond to their needs the Government of the Russian Federation provides pension schemes designed for persons with disabilities. Administered by the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, the disability labour pension is Russia's largest social protection scheme for persons with disabilities.
Eligibility for the disability labour pension is decided according to three categories of disability, depending on the degree of severity, where category one corresponds to the most severe disabilities and category three to those less severe. The categorisation of one's disability, or status within the scheme, is defined by a commission of medical experts based on statements from the applicant's medical institution. Recipients of the disability labour pension are entitled to receive a basic flat rate monthly transfers of RUB 5,926, or USD 90, for category one, RUB 2,963, or USD 45, for category two and RUB1,482, or USD23, for category three disabilities. While monthly transfers are low, persons with disabilities may be entitled to a package of additional benefits, including support for rent and transportation. As of the end of 2014, the combined pensions for labour and state benefits totaled 4.79 million persons with disabilities received disability pensions across the Russian Federation.
Russia's disability labour pension is upheld by the Law on Labour Pensions passed in 2001 and in 2012 Russia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While Russia's pension schemes are universal in approach, the monthly transfers remain low. Nonetheless, Russia's disability labour pension is an important part of the national social protection floor and is accompanied by other schemes tailored to the needs of those with disabilities, thus ensuring access to income support for all persons with disabilities in Russia.
Further Reading:
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2013). Pensions at a glance 2013: Country Profiles – Russian Federation. Accessed from: http://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2013-profile-Russian-Federation.pdf on February 18 2016.