The procedure for compensating expenses for moving from the Far North has been updated

Who can get it?

Pensioners are perhaps the most vulnerable category of citizens, especially if they do not receive any payments other than a pension and no longer work. It is precisely for such people that compensation is provided for moving from the northernmost regions of the country. The specific requirements for the applicant for a cash payment are as follows:

• Russian citizenship;
• receives a pension;
• has no other income, i.e. does not work (additional payments and subsidies do not count).

If you are a working pensioner, then you need to go to your employer for payment. Compensation is also provided for persons not of retirement age, but only if they are dependent on a pensioner.

The nature of the pension payment is also important. Preference is given to those who receive an insurance pension or a state pension. provision.

Where to move to Russia for permanent residence from the north?

Don’t be surprised – this request can be found quite often on the Internet. Soviet-era people, who gave the best years of their lives to the country, want to move closer to warmth and sunshine, preferring a milder climate in their old age.

One of the largest population declines over the past 25 years has been the city of Murmansk - located above the Arctic Circle, this city is famous for its fishing, commercial, and naval enterprises, where they pay very high salaries. It was because of the “northern” or, as they say here, “polar”, that people went to Murmansk to work - there is a very high regional coefficient and it is easy to earn a preferential pension for working in the Far North.

On the other hand, the harsh climate, Polar night, Polar day, low average annual temperature - force people who have earned an early pension to look for a warmer climate.

Here are the most popular destinations in Russia for moving from the north:

• Rostov region
• Krasnodar region
• Belgorod region
• Voronezh region
• Stavropol region
• Volgograd region
• Saratov region

As you can see, all these regions are located in the south of the country - in the Black Earth Region or in the North Caucasus in the Black Sea region. It is also worth mentioning a new direction - moving to the Far East, which is subsidized by the state (Far Eastern hectare and cash subsidies - a million for those moving).

Below we will look at individual localities where people of pre-retirement and retirement age most often want to go.

Moving conditions

Even if a pensioner does not work, he can receive a payment if he complies with all the conditions established by law. They concern the following:

• Moving period . Must take place no earlier than May 16, 2013. The very provision on compensation of this kind was adopted in 2014 (the law already existed, it was simply amended), but it began to apply “retroactively” from May 2013. That is, those who moved earlier were unable to receive the payment.
• Direction . Both the point of departure and the point of arrival are important here. A person must leave from the Far North or equivalent areas. But the arrival point should be further south. What does this mean? If you move from one region to another region of the Far North, you will not be given compensation. For example, if a pensioner leaves Arkhangelsk for Vorkuta, he will pay for the move himself. And if he goes to Krasnodar, then certain expenses will be reimbursed by the state.
• The actual move . That is, a person must deregister at his old place of residence and register at a new one. If he just went on a visit for a long time, no one will compensate for his expenses.

The compensation itself is paid through the Pension Fund, where the pensioner is registered. This is where you need to apply; in the old branch of the Pension Fund they will refuse to give you money.

An alternative to extreme aging

Krasnodar . It occupies the penultimate place in the list of cities according to the well-being index (source: Center for the Study of Pension Reform): 51. Krasnodar Territory: 9984 (pension amount); 10081 (amount of necessary expenses); -97 (balance of available funds); 0.04 (well-being index).

But this is compensated by good opportunities for doing business, agricultural in particular; developed economy and infrastructure. Convenient for purchasing a house with a vegetable garden and further agricultural activities.

Among the benefits for pensioners over 80 years of age are a discount on medicines and compensation for housing and communal services up to 100%.

The city is also famous for its high emotional component, the optimism of its residents, who are in full confidence in the onset of a better life. This indicator, along with the level of safety and environmental condition, allowed the city to take fifth place in the “Happiest Five” monitoring. Sochi was in sixth place. And the first ones identified were: Grozny, Tyumen, Kazan, Surgut.

But in terms of “living conditions”, regardless of a person’s social status, it is in second place, right behind Tyumen. Click on the infographic to enlarge.

What amount will be compensated?

The minimum and maximum amounts of compensation are not established by law. It all depends on the distance of the trip and some other circumstances. In general, funds are returned under two headings:

1. travel costs;
2. baggage costs.

Each of them has its own characteristics and rules. It is not always possible to reimburse all expenses, since there are limitations.

Naturally, no one will return money for travel on an airplane in business class. There are some limitations here:

• Railway transport . The train category is not important. Type of carriage - any, except for compartments designed for 2 people, and SV.
• Water transport . Including sea and river. Money is refunded for travel in category III cabins.
• Airy . It can be used in two cases: if there are no trains in the desired direction or the price of a flight is lower than a train ride. The cost of tickets is reimbursed exclusively on economy class planes.
• Motor transport . We are talking about intercity moving here. This means public transport.

In some areas it is not possible to travel by public transport at all. If a pensioner and his family decide to travel by personal car, then they can also compensate for the costs. But here the refunded amount will consist of expenses for gasoline/other fuel used.

Where to go in old age for patriots or where to live well in Rus'

Patriotic citizens can improve their quality of life in retirement and within the Russian state. It's still worth changing the address. Sociological research on the topic of what address is good for a pensioner in Russia to live at, reveals several conclusions:

1. It is best to be a Muscovite - because of the considerable increase in pension. In this case, you should live in the Moscow region with a sufficiently developed infrastructure, within reach of medical services. And housing in the capital can be rented out. However, non-Muscovites also do this: they rent out their housing in Non-Moscow and live, for example, in Thailand (as an option, there is enough money, but not suitable for patriots).
2. An option from the socialist past is moving to the warm southern regions of Russia. Nowadays, less affordable housing in large cities has somewhat reduced the popularity of a way to improve life, and health does not allow one to settle in the southern outback.
3. What makes pensioners leave their small homeland is the desire to be near their children, who have probably left for more socially prosperous regions.

Many lists of cities good for retirees include Belgorod , rich in greenery, clean air and water. A small pension is also suitable for life, and the work of the social protection authorities is at the proper level. Finding a part-time job is quite easy. Average earnings are approximately double the average pension, and housing is relatively inexpensive.

Ufa is recognized as one of the cheapest cities in Russia . They pay less than three thousand rubles for an apartment here. It's cheaper to take care of your car than anywhere else. About the same three thousand is enough for adequate nutrition for a month. Medicines are also relatively cheap. Citizens here have full benefits and privileges.

Omsk . A million-plus city for Siberians or northerners who do not want to radically change their environment. It is warmer here, the climate is milder. Railway and air transport, well developed, are always at the service of citizens.

The cost of living is about the same as in Ufa. But the conditions for doing business are much superior, giving the city sixth place in the business rankings. The city has the most developed infrastructure in Russia, is among the top five crisis-resistant cities, and has excellent social indicators.

Recently, lists of cities where families with children live relatively well have been compiled and updated annually; people who want to earn good money, or who deserve a break to live in peace, and NOT SURVIVE in retirement.

When deciding to move, older Russians take into account the economic situation of the region and the attitude towards the elderly (social programs, medical care, etc.). The influence of climate and the ecological state of a potential second home is also important. All this is reflected in research as important components of a new life.

Irkutsk was ranked first in the ranking of cities comfortable for retirement, thanks to pension subsidies, reasonable prices for housing and communal services and food. Recently, Irkutsk has announced itself to the surrounding regions as a producer of tasty, healthy and inexpensive products from the dairy and meat industry.

It’s not bad to live in the Tula and Bryansk regions. Here, too, economic comfort is due to inexpensive food, utilities and medicines. Residents of Yaroslavl pay the least for apartments.

Next in descending order of well-being index are Sarapul, Mineralnye Vody, Taganrog, Sochi, Kostroma, Pskov, differing mainly in their favorable ecology.

And, finally, all the income of pensioners is eaten up by the high cost of housing and communal services and necessary food products in Primorye; the mild climate is unaffordable; there is no money left for treatment or medicine. Elderly residents of the Krasnodar region have similar problems. Northerners need to take this into account when deciding to move closer to the warmth and sun, and live only on pension benefits.

The same proportions of income and expenses for Khabarovsk and Muscovites (the option to receive Moscow additional payments, but live outside the center remains in force); the capital is not for the comfortable old age of middle- and low-income people.

Thus, where the average retiree does not need to move is quite easy to determine.

Of course, with all the benefits in the chosen city, a not entirely healthy person definitely needs to know how his body will react to increased humidity, for example, unusual heat or frost. General recipes for well-being will not work; the peculiarities of climate and their individual influence need to be studied more deeply.

When can I get it?

Relocation compensation is not provided in advance. It is paid after settling in a new place. Moreover, you need to go to the new branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and register there (now you will also receive your pension here).

Before going to the Pension Fund, you must obtain confirmation of a change of residence. If you bought an apartment, register in it, otherwise, arrange at least temporary registration.

Next, contact the Pension Fund. They will request your file from the previous department, and then they will issue you a pension at your current place of residence. Only after this can compensation be issued. To receive money, you need to confirm your expenses for moving and luggage. The list of documents includes bills, receipts, checks, tickets for all family members. You will also need to fill out an application; its form can be found in Appendix No. 2 to Order of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation No. 796n dated November 22, 2020. The same document sets out in detail the circulation regulations and other important nuances.

Link to document:

Download an application for compensation for expenses associated with moving from the Far North (sample)

What happens if you don’t bring any documents ? You will not be refunded any money for moving. Such compensation is paid based on the amount of expenses incurred, and if you cannot prove yours, therefore, you did not have them for the Pension Fund. Therefore, it is necessary to save all tickets along the route.

You can apply for compensation without a personal visit: send documents by mail, contact the MFC, or use your personal account on the Pension Fund website.