Deputies from the “A Just Russia – For Truth” party faction in the State Duma have put forward a proposal to grant additional pension points to citizens who care for and raise their grandchildren. An official appeal detailing this initiative has been sent to Minister of Labor Anton Kotyakov.
The authors of this proposal are the party leader and head of the State Duma faction, Sergey Mironov, and the head of the State Duma Committee for the Development of Civil Society, Yana Lantratova.
The letter outlines the core idea: “It is proposed to provide for the possibility of awarding an increased amount of pension points, specifically 1.8 points per year, to citizens of the Russian Federation, regardless of age, who have one grandchild, with the number of points increasing proportionally to the number of grandchildren.”
Speaking to reporters, Mironov clarified that if this initiative is enacted, individuals with one grandchild would receive 1.8 individual pension coefficients annually, and this added amount would increase based on the total number of grandchildren.
“In the current challenging demographic situation, large families, where older generations play a crucial role in raising and sometimes financially supporting their grandchildren, are in need of state support,” the party leader added.
He suggested that this measure would be a beneficial way to increase pensions for many Russians. Mironov also stated that this initial step should pave the way for more targeted and substantial support measures for grandparents.
Commenting on the proposal, Lantratova highlighted the urgency: “Today, the demographic situation in the country demands decisive action. The birth rate has fallen to its lowest point in 25 years, with only 1.2 million newborns in 2024. The total fertility rate, at 1.4 children per woman, is below the population replacement level.”
According to Lantratova, grandparents play an immense role in raising children, often effectively substituting for parents by taking on childcare responsibilities and providing financial and moral assistance. However, she noted, the state currently does not officially recognize this contribution, unlike mothers who raise five children and are granted early retirement rights.
“This kind of support will strengthen the institution of family, helping the older generation feel needed, socially secure, and financially protected. A family is not just parents and their children, but also our dear grandmothers and grandfathers who actively participate in raising their grandchildren,” the deputy concluded.
