Without applications and queues: how automatic pension accrual will work

      A breakthrough in the pension system was reported by State Duma deputy Ekaterina Stenyakina, a member of the relevant committee on labor and social policy. The Ministry of Labor's draft law has already been submitted for public discussion, and apparently, officials have the political will to see it through to the end, reports the portal karelinform.ru.

      How will it work? The Social Fund of Russia (formerly the Pension Fund of Russia) will automatically check all data already available in government databases—work experience, points, contributions—one month before your birthday, when you reach retirement age. If everything is in order, the decision to grant a pension will be made without any application from you. A person will simply receive an official notification within three working days after this decision. That's it. No more queues, certificates from previous workplaces, and stress.

      The initiative will affect a huge number of people: from those retiring by the standard age to beneficiaries—mothers of many children, parents of children with disabilities, as well as recipients of early pensions (for example, medical workers and educators).

      But there is one "but." The rule will not apply to those who have worked abroad. If part of your work experience was gained in another country, it will have to be confirmed the old-fashioned way—documentarily. This exception is made because Russian databases simply do not recognize foreign contributions, and automation is powerless here.

      Let’s recall the key figures: to retire on an insurance pension in 2027, you need to have at least 15 years of official work experience and 30 pension points. If you fall short, unfortunately, the automation will not work—but even then, the system will not refuse silently; it will indicate what exactly is missing.

      Stenyakina emphasizes: the purpose of the reform is not to save money, but to provide convenience. Bureaucratic hurdles have poisoned the lives of elderly people for decades—the innovation is intended to put an end to this once and for all. We just have to wait for the law to be finally adopted and prepare for the fact that in 2027, retiring will become not a headache, but just another date on the calendar.