OREANDA-NEWS In the next two years, federal budget expenditures to finance benefits related to the birth and upbringing of a child will increase by an average of 35 percent compared to the current level. This is stated in the draft budget of the Social Fund for 2024-2026, which was reviewed by Vedomosti.

Payments in 2024 will amount to 1.61 trillion rubles, and in 2025 - 1.72 trillion, which is respectively 427 billion and 439 billion rubles more (plus 36 percent and plus 34 percent) than laid down in the previously approved plan for 2023-2025. In 2026, they want to allocate 1.86 trillion rubles for these purposes.

Expenditures from regional budgets will grow even more. In 2024, payments in the amount of 363.9 billion rubles (plus 43 percent) are planned, in 2025 - 392.8 billion (plus 41 percent), and in 2026 - 422.9 billion. Thus, the total payments in 2024 will amount to 1.975 trillion, in 2025 - 2.117 trillion, and in 2026 - 2.280 trillion rubles.

The press service of the Social Fund explained that the increase in payments is due to the transition of their previous format to a single benefit and an increase in the subsistence minimum, which directly affects the amount of all benefits. The vice-rector of the Financial University, Alexander Safonov, pointed out that a significant increase in the budget is also influenced by a greater number of applications for benefits and the decision of President Vladimir Putin to pay extra to women who entered the labor market after the child reaches the age of 1.5 years. A separate factor will be the extension of the measure to new regions, it is difficult to estimate the number of families in need there at the moment.

At the same time, Yulia Finogenova, Professor of the Department of Finance and Prices of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, noted that the increase in the amount of benefits by one and a half times over the past two years had the greatest impact on the growth of expenses. In 2024, the maximum amount of child care allowance should grow from 33 thousand rubles per month to 49 thousand.

Experts agree that the authorities will not dare to reduce support for families with children because of demographic problems. By the end of 2022, the birth rate in Russia has decreased by 6.9 percent, and financial assistance remains one of the most accessible tools to solve the problem. However, Finogenova notes, confidence in the future is no less important for a woman who wants to have children.

Earlier it was reported that Finance Minister Anton Siluanov proposed to reduce by ten percent all unprotected expenditure items in the next year's budget, and redistribute the released funds. Protected items most often mean social expenses, including numerous payments, as well as spending on military needs and security.