The Kremlin hopes for a speedy decision on additional indexation of pensions in Russia; Vladimir Putin's position on this issue remains in force.

This was announced on Tuesday, January 11, by the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

“How this will be done, we hope, will become known in the near future,” said Peskov.

Note that since January 1, 2022, the size of the insurance pension in Russia has increased by 5.9%.

According to the government's estimate, the average amount of old-age payments to unemployed citizens is now 18,521 rubles.

At the same time, the fixed payment to the insurance pension, taking into account indexation by 5.9%, is set at 6401 rubles.

Payments were increased in accordance with the earlier adopted law on the budget of the Pension Fund.

Meanwhile, the level of the indexation carried out turned out to be lower than real inflation.

So, according to preliminary estimates of Rosstat, in 2021, the growth rate of consumer prices in the country amounted to about 8.4%.

“This is a purely methodological question.

When preparing indexation, inflation for the previous year is always taken into account.

During the adoption of the budget for 2022, it was envisaged to increase pensions by about 5%, because at that time this was exactly the forecast for inflation in 2021 set by the Central Bank.

However, against the backdrop of the continuing consequences of the pandemic, inflation has grown above expectations, "explained Georgy Ostapkovich, director of the Center for Market Research at the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at the Higher School of Economics, in an interview with RT.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the need to index pensions based on real inflation back in November 2021.

According to him, the authorities have strictly adhered to this rule over the past few years, and in the current conditions "it would be wrong to deviate from this principle."

In December, during a big press conference, the Russian leader reminded again that the indexation of pensions should take into account the actual rate of price growth.

Against this background, the president instructed the government to take appropriate measures.

“We mustn't forget about it.

The government of the Russian Federation will have to do everything to keep the promises of previous years.

So far, we have generally been able to do this, and we will definitely do it, ”stressed Vladimir Putin.

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It is planned to consider the issue of additional indexation of pensions already at the first parliamentary hearings in 2022, which are scheduled for January 18.

Svetlana Bessarab, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, spoke about this in an interview with RT.

According to her, the authorities can discuss several options for resolving the issue.

“It can be a bill on pension indexation or a lump sum payment on the same principle as last year.

It is difficult to say which option is more likely to succeed.

But it can be said for sure that pensions will in any case be indexed in accordance with real inflation.

This will be done in the near future and as quickly as possible, ”Bessarab emphasized.

Georgy Ostapkovich, in turn, considers the increase in payments to be more of a technical task, the implementation of which largely depends on the Ministry of Finance.

So, the department will need to find sources to finance the initiative.

“The fact is that the budget has already been approved, and you can't just take this money out of thin air.

The budget is the matching vessels.

If you are increasing funding for one social program, then you need to take funds from other programs.

The Ministry of Finance is faced with the task of correctly distributing budgetary resources to fulfill the President's instructions.

I think this issue will be resolved within a month, ”said Ostapkovich.

However, the additional indexation of pensions will not have a serious burden on the country's budget, Svetlana Bessarab is sure.

As the specialist emphasized, the Russian economy has already recovered from the consequences of the pandemic, and the revenues of the state treasury this year should exceed the amount of expenses.

“There shouldn't be any serious difficulties.

Prompt indexation of pensions is necessary in the current environment, when inflationary risks are still significant.

In this situation, we are obliged to protect the incomes of vulnerable categories of citizens, including pensioners, from inflation.

For the older generation, the increase in pensions will allow them to maintain their usual standard of living and not be afraid for their well-being, ”the deputy concluded.