Among the many government programs created to provide financial assistance to Russian citizens, the provision of housing subsidies for the poor is particularly noteworthy - targeted material assistance, thanks to which the housing issue can be resolved. Unfortunately, many citizens do not understand the legal intricacies and, most importantly, have no idea that there are such types of subsidies from the state.
If you really need government assistance in solving housing problems, and your financial situation leaves much to be desired, you have the right to receive a free subsidy from the state in 2020. In this publication, we will try to advise readers on what specific housing subsidies for the poor the preferential categories of low-income citizens may qualify for.
- What is state housing subsidy?
- How to apply for and receive housing subsidies for low-income people?
- The cost of living in the subjects of the federation
- How to calculate income for classification as low-income families?
- Registration of low-income status in 2020
- Queuing up to receive housing subsidies for low-income people
- Conditions for obtaining state housing subsidies for low-income people
- Benefits for the poor on utility bills
What is state housing subsidy?
The concept of subsidies in our state is of great importance and implies free financial assistance to citizens of the Russian Federation experiencing financial difficulties for one reason or another. The obvious features that distinguish subsidies from other types of financing include the following provisions: financing of citizens on a free basis; partial financial assistance; strict target orientation; budget financing.
A variety of forms of subsidies provide real opportunities for citizens of our state to improve their quality of life. State housing subsidies are aimed primarily at partially compensating the costs of purchasing housing . Although the term “subsidy” also means, for example, benefits for utility bills, rent, etc.
How to apply for and receive housing subsidies for low-income people?
To apply for a state housing subsidy, it is necessary that a citizen or family be recognized as low-income; according to the law, such citizens can include both citizens living alone and families whose average income is considered below the generally established minimum subsistence level.
At the same time, there are a number of nuances that provide for the requirements for recognizing a citizen or family as poor. For example, the degrees of kinship relationships and the procedure for their observance have been established, so married couples whose marriage is registered, but whose wife and husband do not live together and also do not run a common household, do not have the right to apply for housing subsidies for the poor.
The Housing Code of the Russian Federation sets the parameters for assessing the income of single citizens or families, as well as the parameters for assessing the property they own (movable and immovable). At the same time, the laws of the constituent entities of the federation establish their own procedure, according to which citizens can be classified as low-income people who are entitled to government subsidies. The formula for calculating income and property in different regions of Russia may differ; somewhere data from Rosstat is used, somewhere the residence qualification is used in the formulas.
Calculation of subsidies for utilities
To receive a subsidy, a citizen should contact the district department of housing subsidies, where they can clarify the list of documents and what total income a family must have in order for it to qualify for government assistance. It is worth noting that this income may be different in different regions of the country - local governments have the right to set these standards independently.
In different regions, fees for housing and communal services vary from 10% to 22% of the family’s total monthly income. If the total family income exceeds the threshold of 22%, then you can safely apply for a subsidy for utilities.
Calculation of subsidies for utility bills in 2014 is carried out depending on the expenses of an individual family to pay for premises and utility bills and is also calculated based on the standards of a particular region.
The cost of living in the subjects of the federation
Officially established subsistence levels may vary from one federal subject to another. The cost of living is recalculated quarterly and determined for three main categories of citizens: able-bodied persons, children and pensioners.
In order for a particular family to be registered in the low-income category, it is necessary to accurately compare the family’s income with the subsistence level calculated using the formula for the past quarter specifically for their region. Let us repeat that in some regions of the federation such calculations are carried out using simple formulas, and in some places you will need to calculate the cost of living taking into account the age and status of each family member. In this case, you may need the help of specialists, however, most often, the information you need will be enough. which can be found on the Internet for your region of residence. Typically, information on the cost of living is published in open sources and on official websites by local regional authorities, social protection services, or employment services; by law, this information must be updated quarterly.
Subsidy for Housing and Communal Services Who is Entitled 2020 Moscow Region Amount Table
The recipient has the right to choose any bank that he likes, so here it is worth following only one piece of advice: choose a bank with an extensive network of branches, as this will give you the opportunity to choose if you need to apply for the amount in this account. This is a particular convenience for pensioners, because they can use the account into which their pension is recalculated to receive a subsidy.
We recommend reading: Personal Income Tax Deduction for 3 Children in 2020
To calculate subsidies, the cost of living established by Decree of the Government of the Moscow Region No. 1116/46 dated December 25, 2020 for the main socio-demographic groups in the Moscow Region for the third quarter of 2020 is used.
How to calculate income for classification as low-income families?
The average income per family member must be compared with the size of the subsistence minimum calculated using the appropriate formula (its own for the subject of the federation), and only after reconciling income with the subsistence minimum can a family be recognized as low-income. The legislation establishes the procedure for determining income and calculating family income, as well as the income of single citizens.
In accordance with regional laws, joint family income is taken into account for a particular period preceding the time of citizens’ application. The legislation also defines the types of income, the indicators of which are important for the provision of financial assistance by the state.
Let's take an example of calculating family income for classification as low-income in Moscow - in the capital, the “property security” indicator is legally defined, which is calculated using the formula:
Property security = Value of movable and immovable property of all family members + Income of all family members for 20 years.
Family income is calculated by multiplying the sum of the average monthly income of all family members by 240 (the number of months in 20 years). In this case, the average monthly family income is defined as the sum of the average monthly income of all family members for two full calendar years preceding the year of application for classification as low-income families.
The value obtained from the formula is compared with the cost of housing required by standards in Moscow (18 square meters per person).
Registration of low-income status in 2020
If, as a result of calculations, it turns out that the average income of a family or a separately living citizen allows one to qualify for the status of the poor, you can safely contact the social protection authorities to obtain the status of the poor. In this case, you need to draw up an application and collect the necessary package of documentation, the exact list of which can be found out directly when contacting the social protection department, but most often the list of documents required to register the status of low-income people and subsequently receive a state housing subsidy includes: an application; passport(s); marriage certificate; child's birth certificate; TIN certificate(s); documents confirming income (salary certificates, pensions, scholarships); documents for property owned by different family members (cadastral certificate and certificate of ownership of real estate, if available); Housing office certificate regarding registration.
The decision is made by the authorized bodies within 10-30 days, after which it is possible to assign the status of the poor.
What documents will be needed to apply for a subsidy:
Copies of passports of all family members, including those pages containing registration data. A completed certificate of the quantitative composition of the family. Copies of papers certifying ownership or right to use housing (purchase and sale agreements, donations, social tenancies, as well as certificates of inheritance). A certificate issued by the BTI confirming the size of the area in the apartment. Copies of those documents that confirm the kinship and family connection with the owner of the apartment. They are provided as such or in case of its termination, as well as birth certificates of relatives of the owner of the premises. Certificates of absence of debt for all types of utility payments. They should be taken as of the month in which the first application for a subsidy occurs. Certificates of all income of family members of the owner of the property for the past six months. The payments include not only the salary itself, but also a pension, scholarship, royalties, and funds from doing business. Moreover, each certificate must contain certain details: seal and corner stamp, date and number, information about the enterprise, grounds and date of issue of the document, amount of income, as well as signatures that must be put by the director and chief accountant.
Queuing up to receive housing subsidies for low-income people
And so, you or your family are classified as low-income, and you have a desire to take advantage of government subsidies for the purchase of an apartment, now you can register to improve your living conditions as part of the program for receiving housing subsidies for the poor. If your situation meets one of these conditions:
- none of the family members uses housing under a social tenancy agreement;
- none of the family members owns the residential premises;
- the housing in which a citizen or low-income family lives is recognized as unsafe;
- a low-income family uses housing under a social tenancy agreement or owns living space by right of ownership, but the minimum space standards per person are not met.
- members of a low-income family live together with a seriously ill person suffering from a chronic disease;
Taking into account the presence of at least one of the signs and recognition of the family as low-income, a citizen or family can apply to the state social protection authorities to be placed in line to receive a housing subsidy for the low-income.
Conditions
Eligibility for utility subsidies, for example, is subject to specific conditions. That is, before receiving help, you need to make sure that one of the following conditions is present:
- the applicant(s) must have ownership of the property;
- be a tenant of residential space under an agreement with the local administration, that is, occupy a residential property on the basis of a social tenancy agreement;
- be a member of a housing cooperative or MK.
It is very important to know that if there are current arrears in payments for utility services, it is impossible for large families, low-income people or pensioners to receive subsidies. As for the amount of assistance, each region sets its value at its own discretion. For example, the subsidy for housing and communal services in Moscow today is calculated individually. But provided that the amount of utility bills exceeds 10% of the total family income, subject to all required standards.
To receive a subsidy for housing and communal services in Moscow or any other city in the country, you must contact the social security department for registration. There you need to clarify the list of documents that must be provided to receive assistance.
Information on how to receive a subsidy can be found at the MFC. You can also find out about this through the State Services portal. Here you can clarify the terms of the subsidies and submit the necessary list of documents. An important advantage of these services is time saving. Indeed, in the first case, a coupon can be issued for a specific date and time, and in the second, you don’t even have to leave the house. This eliminates the need to sit in line.
Conditions for obtaining state housing subsidies for low-income people
A positive decision, as well as a refusal on an application for a housing subsidy for the poor, is made by the social protection service within a 30-day period. In particular, the reasons for refusal may be a lack of documents provided, as well as unreliability of the information provided. In this case, it is possible to appeal the refusal in court.
After a positive decision is made, the applicant is provided with written confirmation and assigned a new number. There are certain categories of citizens who may be entitled to an extraordinary right to improve their living conditions. For example, these are people seriously ill with chronic diseases who are forced to live in the same living space with other family members. Persons with the right to receive extraordinary state housing subsidies for low-income people in 2020 also include citizens whose housing is not subject to reconstruction and may pose a danger to life and health.
Benefits for the poor on utility bills
The Housing Code of the Russian Federation defines specific benefits for low-income citizens and families, implying a reduction in regular payments for utilities and rent. Benefits can be taken advantage of when a citizen/family’s spending on utility costs exceeds the 22% barrier to income. State subsidies for utility bills are provided to:
- persons living in private housing under commercial lease agreements;
- persons living in their own residential premises by right of ownership;
- users of residential premises of municipal/state housing stock.
- persons living in apartments of housing cooperatives;
The decision on subsidies and the direct assignment of benefits and subsidies for the payment of utilities and rent are the responsibility of local authorities. For questions about reducing tariffs, low-income citizens should contact local housing departments, and to apply for subsidies, contact social security authorities. The decision to grant benefits to the poor for utility bills is made by social protection authorities within 10 days . In the event of a possible refusal that was not clearly motivated, the applicant has the right to appeal the refusal in court.
The main documents for obtaining benefits for utility bills are: passport; TIN; certificate of family composition; documents on the income of all family members; documents on the right to residential premises (rent, ownership); BTI certificate, etc. To clarify the full list of documents, you must contact the social protection service. Many people do not know their rights to benefits or housing subsidies for the poor, therefore Federal Law No. 324-FZ of November 21, 2011 “On free legal assistance in the Russian Federation” provides for free consultation of citizens on any issues, including those related to the provision of government assistance to the poor.
Subsidy for housing and communal services in the Moscow region in 2020 for the poor
A subsidy for housing and communal services is a targeted cash payment that is provided on a temporary basis to citizens, and to foreign citizens in certain cases. When determining the need for support, you should calculate in advance the percentage that the family spends from its total income on utility bills.
Regional authorities have the right to establish the specifics of providing assistance, but they must not violate federal legislation. The period for providing assistance may differ from the six-month period approved at the federal level.
