How to avoid falling into the trap of “social” age

“The refusal came without explaining the reasons,” some elderly Russians who applied for retirement through the State Services face this formulation. The number of such refusals in the whole country goes to thousands. And sometimes even employees of the MFC or the Social Fund of Russia on the ground get confused in the rules and encourage citizens, sending them to collect documents for a well-deserved vacation ahead of time.

Such “refuseniks” most likely fell into the main trap of pension reform – did not take into account the difference between insurance and social pensions. It is all about the transition period due to the increase in the retirement age of men and women by 5 years. It is valid from 2019 to 2028 in order for citizens to adapt to the new terms of entering the well-deserved rest.

With the insurance pension issues, as a rule, does not arise, it receives the majority of elderly Russians, about 40 million people. And the holders of social pension in 2026 are an order of magnitude less than citizens – 4.3 million. To be honest, you won’t be jealous of them.

At the end of August, the average insurance pension this year is 25 469 rubles. The minimum social age is 9,429 rubles. However, if it is below the subsistence minimum (16 288 rubles), the state pays the recipient this difference. But in any case, social payments for old age are almost 10 thousand rubles lower than insurance. Overlays with the registration of pensions most often occur in this category of elderly.

"The robot gives a template answer."

- What is the transition period for social pensions? Why are women born in 1965 and men born in 1960 being rejected in mass in 2026, and when will they actually receive the first payments?

- Let's go in order, Professor Safonov begins the conversation. There are two main types of old-age pension in Russia. The first is insurance, which is paid to those who have officially worked, accumulated a minimum length of service (15 years) and earned 30 retirement points.

And the second is social. Its state appoints those who for various reasons could not develop the necessary experience - for example, all his life worked informally, cared for loved ones or was engaged in household work.

Social old-age pension is always granted 5 years later than insurance. When Russia began to raise the retirement age, the bar shifted for both types of payments. But if the insurance pension trumpet literally from every iron, then about the “social” age, many simply forget.

- Can you tell us about “social” age?

- Suppose the woman was born in January 1965. She turned 61 in 2026. She thinks it’s time to get the documents. But if she lacks a minimum length of service (15 years) and does not have 30 individual pension coefficients, she can only claim a social pension. And the right to such payments for women born in 1965 will come only in 2030, when they turn 65 years old. The application submitted to the Social Fund of Russia will be rejected automatically.

- What should be considered for those who can only count on a social pension?

- The final age for obtaining a social old-age pension in Russia will be 65 years for women and 70 years for men. However, until 2028 there is a transition period.

This year, women born in 1962, who turned 64, are on social pension. Women born in 1963 will retire in 2028 when they turn 65.

In men, everything shifts by 5 years. Those born in 1957 go on social pension this year at the age of 69 years. Those born in 1958 will retire in 2028 when they turn 70.

In 2028, the pension reform is completed and then men and women can issue social pensions at 70 and 65 years, respectively.

- But why do MFCs and agencies often give out incorrect information, misleading older Russians?

- To date, the system is guilty of the problem of robotization of failures. The state has moved the registration of services online. The SFR robot sees the age discrepancy in the system and issues a standard template answer: “A decision has been made to refuse to assign a pension (transfer from one pension to another).” To explain in human language that you did not have enough points or have to wait a few more years, the robot secretary does not yet know how.

The human factor must also be taken into account. MFC specialists are broad profile operators. They accept documents for a passport, for benefits, and for discharge from the apartment. They don’t have to (and often don’t) calculate your retirement. If the applicant says, “I want to retire,” the operator simply accepts the application without going into nuances. And after two weeks, the citizen receives an unreasonable refusal.

- If a person is rejected, what should he do?

- No need to panic and write new duplicate statements. Act on the algorithm: first find out the exact reason. A reasoned decision to refuse the SFR is obliged to give you your hands or send to your personal account. There will be clearly prescribed regulations and reasons: either you lack age, or work experience, or pension points.

Next, order an individual account statement (IFS). This is done in 2 minutes on the portal of public services. In it you will see the exact amount of your official seniority and pension coefficients.

Well, starting from this, decide whether to write you a new application or accept the refusal.

"Course can be officially purchased."

- Social pension is much lower than insurance. It is clear that the person did not really work anywhere and it is his own fault. However, many Russians not only beat and parasitized, but for good reasons (illness, the birth of children) did not earn seniority and the right amount of IPK. Is there any way they can increase pensions?

- You need to assess your chances of getting an insurance pension. Social pension is the minimum money (at the level of the subsistence minimum of a pensioner) and a long waiting period. If you lack only 1-2 years of experience or several points before the insurance pension, you have the right to “purchase” them (officially pay voluntary contributions to the SFR) or officially finalize this period.

- What's that gonna do?

- This will allow you to retire 4-5 years earlier than the “social” age and receive larger payments. Insurance pensions are legally indexed to annual inflation. And social – from the budget. So if you do not have enough before the insurance pension, it is economically impractical to wait for the onset of “social” age (which will come 5 years later). Over 5 years of waiting, a person loses hundreds of thousands of rubles of failed payments.

- How to get insurance experience and pension coefficients?

- There are two ways. The first is formal employment, including part-time or GPC work. In this case, the employer pays for you. The second is making voluntary contributions to the FIU: the so-called purchase of seniority. This option is more suitable for self-employed or non-working citizens, for whom contributions are paid by a relative. In 2026, you can buy a maximum of 1 year of experience for 1 calendar year.

As for the number of individual pension coefficients that are credited to your account for the year of work, they directly depend on the size of the official salary.

- Can you calculate how much IPC and experience a person will receive for 12 months of work?

- With a salary in the area of the minimum wage (27,093 thousand rubles) - 1 IPC. This option is suitable for those who lack 1-2 points and a year of experience. If a person earns 45 thousand rubles, then he will be credited with 2 points. This is the best option, allows you to close the deficit of 4-5 points in a couple of years. With a salary of 67 thousand rubles, a citizen will receive 3 IPCs. And with a salary of 90 thousand or more, a citizen will receive 4 or more points. In this case, you can quickly get out of the risk zone. However, it should be noted that the law has a strict limit. Even with an ultra-high salary for a calendar year, it is impossible to get more than 10 points and more than one year of experience.

- In what situations is refining a reasonable step?

- You were automatically denied an insurance pension, and the social pension is still far away. As in the case of women born in 1965, it is absolutely unprofitable to wait until 2030. If your extract from the ILS shows that up to 3 years of experience and up to 5-6 points are missing. If you have a real opportunity to work, and your health allows you to find an official place, this will bring double benefits.

- How do you practically do what you recommend?

- Detailed step-by-step instructions do not make sense. Those who do not own the Internet can be helped by relatives. Self-employed can operate through the My Tax app. And non-working citizens - through the portal "State Services".

It is important to know the general information. For one calendar year, you can buy strictly no more than 1 year of experience. For the current year to enter the seniority, the entire amount must be paid by December 31. By law, an ordinary person cannot buy more than half of the required insurance experience (no more than 7.5 years in a lifetime). For the self-employed, this restriction has been lifted.

- Preliminary indexation of the insurance pension is already known: from February 1, 2027 - by 6.8%, and from April 1 - by another 3.3%. Why are they silent about raising social pensions?

- They are traditionally indexed from April 1. And their level depends on increasing the subsistence minimum for a pensioner in the region. This figure has not yet been determined. Now many citizens have questions about the April indexation of insurance payments by 3.3%. It will be made from the budget of the Social Fund depending on the growth rate of wages and investment income of the SFR.