Pension for those living abroad: terms of appointment, payment procedure.

According to the Pension Fund, more than 300 thousand citizens live outside Russia and regularly receive pensions from the Pension Fund. Payments are transferred to 128 countries located on different continents. A pension abroad, as a general rule, requires annual confirmation of three facts: that its recipient is alive, that he is or is not performing paid work, and that he still has valid Russian citizenship. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this rule has been temporarily changed.

Who is entitled to receive a Russian pension when traveling abroad?

As a rule, most Russian pensioners retain the right to receive a pension when leaving for permanent residence abroad. The following cannot count on receiving a pension abroad:

pensioners whose pension was assigned according to Soviet laws, and not Russian ones (mainly those who left the Russian Federation before the beginning of the 90s);

pensioners receiving social pensions. These, in particular, include disabled people who do not have an insurance period (a complete list of periods included in the insurance period must be provided to you at the Pension Fund office in your region).

pensioners traveling to countries with which the USSR or the Russian Federation have international agreements on pension provision (including many former republics of the USSR, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, etc.). Such citizens are paid pensions in accordance with the agreements.

A pensioner who is going to leave for permanent residence outside the Russian Federation, in accordance with Article 1 of the Federal Law of March 6, 2001 No. 21-FZ “On the payment of pensions to citizens leaving for permanent residence outside the Russian Federation,” has the right to receive the amount the pension assigned to him six months in advance. To do this he needs:

submit an application for payment of a pension for six months to your branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation;
submit documents confirming his departure abroad for permanent residence. For a citizen of the Russian Federation, this is a so-called foreign passport from the island.

Please note that pensions paid six months in advance are not recalculated, even if the legislation has changed during this time and all other pensions have been increased. If departure is delayed by more than six months, the pension can again be paid six months in advance (Regulation on the procedure for paying pensions to citizens leaving for permanent residence outside the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 8, 2002 No. 510 ).

For a pensioner who has left for permanent residence abroad, the amount of the assigned pension is either paid on the territory of the Russian Federation (in rubles) or transferred abroad (at the ruble exchange rate established by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on the day of each transfer) - this depends on the desire of the pensioner himself.

First option: the pension is paid to the pensioner on the territory of the Russian Federation (in rubles)

On the territory of our country, the pension is paid by the same branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation as before the person left abroad. An application is sent to this branch of the Pension Fund, indicating the country of departure, address of permanent residence abroad, and details of the Russian bank. The application is accompanied by a document confirming the citizen’s place of permanent residence abroad and a certificate of the date of departure abroad (or move from one foreign state to another).

Based on this application, the branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation pays pensions in our country. If previously the pension was transferred abroad, the Pension Fund branch notifies the Pension Fund of the pensioner’s desire to receive it on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, further indexation, adjustment and recalculation of pensions are carried out in accordance with Russian legislation.

The above-mentioned Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 8, 2002 No. 510 allows pensions to be paid not only through a bank, but also under a power of attorney issued by the pensioner to his representative. This document must be notarized.

In any case, the pension is paid if there is a document confirming that the citizen is alive on December 31 of each year.

Such a document is issued by a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation abroad, a notary on the territory of the Russian Federation, or a competent authority (official) of a foreign state.

Foreign documents submitted for pension purposes must be certified by affixing an apostille to the competent authority of the country of residence and have a notarized translation into Russian.

Second option: transferring a pension to a pensioner abroad.

It is carried out by the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation at the request of the pensioner and on the basis of the same documents as when paying a pension in our country.

In this case, the Pension Fund requests a certificate from your Pension Fund branch for a certificate on the pension file and, on the basis of such a certificate, transfers the pension outside of Russia (taking into account the payment of the pension six months in advance before departure). It is transferred to the pensioner’s account in a foreign bank.

Payment of pension when a pensioner returns from abroad

Russian legislation also provides for rules for the payment of pensions when pensioners return for permanent residence to the Russian Federation.

In such cases, the pension is paid by the territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation on the basis of:

data on unpaid pension amounts;
pensioner statements;
passport of this pensioner - a citizen of the Russian Federation with a mark of registration at the place of residence.

In this case, the amounts of the assigned pension not received during his residence abroad are paid for no more than three years preceding the application for a pension on the territory of the Russian Federation.

After receiving all the necessary documents, the territorial branch of the Pension Fund verifies the correctness of the calculation of the pension and begins paying the pension to the pensioner on the territory of the Russian Federation.

If before this the pension was transferred to a pensioner abroad, then the territorial branch of the Pension Fund notifies the Pension Fund of the receipt of an application from a citizen to pay him a pension on the territory of our country and requests a document on the termination of the transfer of the pension to the pensioner outside the Russian Federation.

Answers to the most difficult questions regarding pensions for citizens traveling abroad

I am a Russian specialist, currently working abroad. Can I provide myself with a pension in Russia?

According to Article 29 of the Law on Labor Pensions, citizens of the Russian Federation working outside its territory can voluntarily enter into legal relations under compulsory pension insurance and pay insurance contributions to the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. It follows from this that you only need to submit an application to the Pension Fund and transfer insurance premiums yourself.

In this case, a citizen working abroad acquires the status of a person insured in the compulsory pension insurance system of the Russian Federation, or continues to remain such if he already had this status.

What documents does a pensioner need to submit to receive a pension six months in advance when traveling abroad?

Payment of a pension to a pensioner when traveling abroad six months in advance is made:

a pensioner - a citizen of the Russian Federation - on the basis of an application and a passport identifying him outside the Russian Federation, if this passport contains o;
for a foreign citizen - on the basis of an application, a national passport, a copy of a residence permit and a visa of the foreign state into which he intends to enter (if necessary);
a stateless person - on the basis of an application, a copy of a residence permit and a visa of the foreign state into which he intends to enter (if necessary).

In what order does the Pension Fund decide on transferring a pension to a pensioner abroad and within what time frame does the transfer take place?

Based on the pensioner’s application, the Pension Fund requests a certificate from the territorial branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation regarding his pension file.

The territorial branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, which provided pension support to the pensioner on the territory of the Russian Federation, checks the correctness of calculation of the pension for the specified pensioner, closes his pension file and draws up a certificate on the pension file in two copies, one of which is sent to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

The second copy of the certificate and the request from the Pension Fund are stored together with the pension file in the archive of current pension files.

After receiving a certificate on the pension file of a pensioner who has left for permanent residence outside the Russian Federation, the Pension Fund transfers the pension to the pensioner abroad.

The pension begins to be transferred to the pensioner abroad the next month after the date the pensioner leaves the Russian Federation, but not earlier than the day before which the pension is paid in Russian rubles (taking into account the payment of the pension to the pensioner six months in advance before departure).

I live abroad, receive a Russian pension. From time to time, pension legislation changes and the size of the pension increases. Does this apply to me? If yes, in what order will the size of my pension be reviewed?

In this case, you need to understand what kind of increase in pensions we are talking about. If they are indexed in connection with inflation, then this applies to all pensions, including those paid to pensioners who have gone abroad.

If a federal law is adopted that increases the size of the basic part of the labor pension in order to bring it closer to the subsistence level of a pensioner in our country, then the recalculation is made according to the norms of such a law. According to the Law on Labor Pensions, such acts may establish certain features regarding Russian pensions paid to pensioners abroad.

Will I be able to receive a survivor's pension for my son if we are going to go abroad for permanent residence?

Yes, you, as your son's legal representative, will be able to receive a survivor's pension accrued to your son. The law does not limit citizens from receiving any type of pension - both labor and assigned under the State Pension Law - on the grounds that they have gone abroad for permanent residence.

I am permanently registered in the Russian Federation, but actually live abroad. Can I be deprived of my pension benefits if I receive a pension under the laws of another state?

In the absence of such information, the payment of pensions to persons who maintain registration on the territory of the Russian Federation and have not been removed from the pension register cannot be terminated (Pension Magazine, 1999, No. 3, p. 16).

In addition, in some cases the law allows for dual citizenship. For example, many pensioners permanently residing in Israel receive a pension both according to the laws of this country and the laws of the Russian Federation, since they have dual citizenship. (see article Russian officials advise Israelis on issues of receiving pensions).

I live abroad permanently. I have been assigned a Russian old-age labor pension. I want my relative living in Russia to receive it. Is it possible?

Yes, but for this you need:

send to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation an application for crediting a pension to your relative’s account in the bank at his place of residence;
issue a power of attorney in his name to receive a pension. Such a power of attorney can be drawn up not only at the consulate of the Russian Federation, but also by an official or competent authority abroad in accordance with international rules.

A power of attorney drawn up by a citizen of the Russian Federation permanently residing on the territory of a state that is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (The Hague, October 5, 1961), to which the Russian Federation acceded on May 31, 1992, is certified by the competent authority of this state in a special manner order - by affixing an apostille.

An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the status of the person who signed the power of attorney, the authenticity of the seal and stamp with which it is sealed.

Most countries, including Russia, are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention (more than 90 states in total).

A power of attorney drawn up in a foreign language by a citizen of the Russian Federation residing on the territory of a state that is a party to the Convention on Legal Assistance or a party to the relevant bilateral treaty with the Russian Federation must be certified by an inscription from a notary of the Russian Federation confirming the correct translation of the power of attorney into Russian.

What documents are needed to pay a pension upon the pensioner’s return to permanent residence in Russia from abroad?

To pay a pension on the territory of the Russian Federation, upon returning from abroad, a pensioner submits directly to his territorial branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, which provided his pension:

application for payment of a pension on the territory of the Russian Federation;
a document confirming the pensioner’s place of permanent residence outside the Russian Federation, and a certificate of the date of departure (moving from one state to another).

In all cases, payment of a pension to a pensioner is made subject to the submission to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation or to the territorial branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, which pays pensions on the territory of the Russian Federation, a document confirming the fact that the citizen is alive on December 31 of each year (documents executed earlier than the specified date, for continued pension payments are not accepted).

If the specified document is not submitted, payment of the pension to the pensioner is suspended (terminated) in the manner established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. After the pensioner submits this document, the payment of the pension is restored, but no more than for three years preceding the pensioner’s application on this matter to his territorial branch of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

Do you want to forget forever about the problem of the eternal lack of money, accumulate capital for yourself and become a rich and happy retiree? Then you should definitely come >>> here.

With wishes for a Happy Retirement Life,

Kolesov G.B., pension planning expert, independent pension consultant

ypensioner.ru

Are pension points given for military service?

The work experience of a serviceman's wife includes all periods of marriage when the family was in areas where it was impossible to find a job for objective reasons.

The calculation of pension payments for the length of service accumulated under the USSR, as well as during the transition period, that is, from the collapse of the USSR until 2002, occurs by including work and other socially significant activities carried out during that period in the total length of service at the time of registration pensions.

But people in such professions are needed only when they are young. Therefore, it is almost impossible to develop such experience. In reality, maybe one person out of a hundred will be able to take advantage of such a benefit.

Whether this is a lot or a little, only Ivan can judge. Given the small size of his pension, an increase of about 2,000 rubles per year can play a very significant role.

Contract service is not included in the pension experience, but is taken into account when determining overall pension points.

3. Mexico

Fans of the exotic can go even further - to Mexico. This is a real adventure paradise, surprising with the hospitality of the residents of villages lost in the depths of the tropical jungle, the diversity of flora and fauna, the silence of secluded beaches and the noise of megacities, the splendor of architecture and the piquant cuisine.

The average cost of living in Mexico is slightly higher than the Russian pension, 17,570 RUB per person per month, but you can save on food and rent.

For a rented one-room apartment in the center they are asking 16,650 RUB per month, outside the center - 10,800 RUB. The price of 1 liter of milk is 50 RUB, 1 kg of cheese is 300 RUB, chicken fillet is 260 RUB, beef tenderloin is 400 RUB. Oranges and bananas for 45-50 RUB per kilo, vegetables for 40-60 RUB. For lunch in a cafe: about 300 RUB, dinner in a restaurant: 1300 RUB. A movie ticket costs 215 RUB, a fitness subscription costs 1890 RUB, and a transport ticket costs 25 RUB.

Where to relax without knowing foreign languages: the most suitable countries
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Who is awarded experience for military service?

We must immediately warn you that the transfer of service in the ranks of the Soviet army into pension points is not beneficial in all cases. Therefore, it is best to first consult with a Pension Fund employee on this issue.

In case of a positive decision from the Pension Fund, you should not expect a significant increase in the payment. A year of military service provides a citizen with only 1.8 points.

Work experience is the total number of years worked during the labor relationship with the employer, as well as the duration of other periods prescribed in labor and pension legislation.

Periods of military service upon conscription and child care, as before, are counted towards the insurance period, and pension points are awarded for them. Since 2020, new benefits for early retirement have come into force. One of these benefits is the early granting of pensions to people with long service: women with 37 years of experience and men with 42 years of experience.

Türkiye

To radically change your life, you don’t have to travel far away. You might prefer something more familiar and close: for example, Turkey, which has become something of a dacha for Russians. If you discard stereotypes, you will discover a lot of new and pleasant things: treasures like the landscapes of Cappadocia and the snow-white terraces of Pamukkale, the ski resorts of Uludag and Palandoken or the thermal spas of Yalova and Kangal.

And also restaurants with authentic cuisine, labyrinthine markets, unusual museums.

The estimated cost of living in Turkey is RUB 13,240 per month per person. Inexpensive products: a liter of milk - 30 RUB, a loaf of bread - 15 RUB, a package of eggs - 70 RUB, 1 kg of cheese - 210 RUB, chicken fillet - 140 RUB, beef tenderloin - 510 RUB, oranges and apples - 30-35 RUB, tomatoes and potatoes - 20-35 RUB, a bottle of wine - 315 RUB. You can have lunch in a cafe for 210 RUB or dinner for two in a restaurant for 740 RUB, go to the cinema for 180 RUB, buy a monthly gym membership for 1280 RUB or a travel pass for 1900 RUB. Renting a one-room apartment in the center will cost 13,400 RUB, in the periphery - 7,900 RUB per month.

Is it possible to live in a resort in Turkey on a Russian pension? Let's count:

7. Romania

We are getting even closer to the Balkans, to Romania, covered in legends of varying degrees of gloom, full of natural beauty and elegant architecture. Transylvania is the birthplace of the great and terrible Dracula, with frankly tourist attractions (Bran Castle) and truly atmospheric locations (Poenari).

In summer it’s good to relax on the Black Sea beaches, in winter it’s good to ski in Poiana Brasov and Sinaia, in the off-season it’s good to walk around elegant Bucharest and improve your health in balneological clinics.

The average cost of living is 18,000 RUB per month per person. In order to save money, we are adjusting the menu: milk - 55 RUB, bread - 30 RUB, 1 kg of cheese - 290 RUB, chicken - 250 RUB, beef - 380 RUB, oranges and bananas - 65-70 RUB, potatoes and onions - 25-30 RUB . Wine is inexpensive, about 260 RUB per bottle, lunch in a modest eatery - 290 RUB, 3 courses for two in a restaurant - 1450 RUB. A month of classes in a fitness club - 1800 RUB, traveling by public transport - 910 RUB. Rent of one-room apartments - 13,000-18,000 RUB per month, depending on location.

Where to apply for recalculation

As in the case of assigning pension payments and other payments from the Pension Fund, a citizen will need to contact the Fund’s Client Service at his place of residence (where his payment file is stored) for recalculation. This will require certain documents:

passport;
SNILS;
Military ID.

If necessary, the PFR inspector may request other clarifying documents.

An application for recalculation can also be sent by mail, attaching copies of the necessary documents. You can also contact the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation via the Internet, on the unified portal of State Services or on the website of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

Due to frequent updates to legislation and the legal uniqueness of each situation, we recommend obtaining a free telephone consultation with a lawyer. You can ask your question by calling the hotline number 8 (800) 555-40-36 or write it in the form below.