Russians can expect an increase in pensions and benefits in 2026: how payments will change

      The indexation is provided for by federal legislation and is carried out taking into account actual inflation for 2025, Vadim Vinogradov, Doctor of Juridical Sciences and dean of the Faculty of Law at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), told RT.

      According to him, from January 1, 2026, old-age insurance pensions will increase by 7.6%, which will exceed the projected inflation (6.8%). As a result, the average insurance pension will be about 27,100 rubles.

      From April 1, 2026, social pensions will be indexed by 6.8%. This increase will affect citizens without insurance work records, as well as children with disabilities and people disabled since childhood. After the indexation, the average payment amount will reach 16,590 rubles.

      In addition, the amount of maternity capital will increase:

      for the first child — to 737,200 rubles,

      for the second — to 974,100 rubles,

      for families that have already received the payment for the first child, the additional amount will be 236,900 rubles.

      The one-time childbirth allowance will increase to 28,773 rubles, and the minimum monthly childcare allowance until the child is 1.5 years old, calculated from the minimum wage (MROT), will be 10,837 rubles.

      Also, from February 1, 2026, all other social payments will be indexed — compensations for people with disabilities, veterans, liquidators of man-made accidents and other categories of citizens. The increase will be 6.8%, which corresponds to the inflation rate for the previous year.

      Vinogradov stressed that citizens should clarify their categories of payments and payment dates in advance, as well as monitor updates in their personal accounts on the Gosuslugi portal and at branches of the Social Fund of Russia, in order to submit the necessary documents on time and avoid delays.