The Russians began to divorce en masse: they reduce income for the sake of receiving benefits

The government proudly announced the improvement of support for families with children with low incomes: from January 1, 2023, a single allowance for children and pregnant women will be introduced. True, in order to deserve it, the average income per capita in a family must be below one regional subsistence level.

It would seem that a good deed designed to strengthen families. But it had unexpected consequences: the director of the Accounts Chamber department, Olga Samarina, said that as a result, the couple, on the contrary, began to divorce en masse. True, fictitious – to fall under the necessary criteria. Because with a divorce, the total income of the family falls – after all, only one parent remains in it. Gol, as you know, is cunning for invention. This trick has become especially popular in the regions. “We went to the regions and saw how the family submits an application to the relevant authorities, and they are denied benefits. They get divorced, apply for the second time, and this application is already approved and the allowance is assigned,” Samarina said. “Divorce allows families to divide and reduce the total income, after which they receive monthly payments for each child up to 17 years old.”

Of course, you can accuse cunning citizens of dishonesty and self-interest. But what is left for them to do? Low-income mothers almost cry on social media and on the pages of deputies, complaining about inadequate conditions for receiving benefits. “Officials are looking for a million reasons to refuse families!”

Recall that in 2023 the cost of living in Russia will be 14,375 rubles, but it will differ in the regions. In Moscow, for example, in 2022 it was 23,508 rubles. On average across the country, according to officials, a single allowance will be from 7,000 to 14,000 rubles. per month per child.

It turns out that in order for the state to notice you and not refuse you, your parents need to be practically beggars. Well, or to receive a salary in an envelope, and officially – the minimum wage. “Families in which parents work in the public sector are automatically excluded from the list of benefits, receiving a white, but very small salary, including income tax, which is not deducted for calculating benefits. Therefore, we will never see this help!” – complained one of the mothers of many children.

And indeed, it’s a shame: people with a “gray” salary have completely different real incomes, but in the end they also receive benefits. “Our relatives with one child receive benefits, but we with three children do not. The difference in income between us and them is about five thousand. But my husband and I work with a white salary and pay taxes to the state in full. And they receive money in an envelope,” another family of “refuseniks” is sad.

Here’s another example. A large family, my mother is on maternity leave until 1.5 years old, while she receives benefits, and dad provides for everyone. As large families, they receive only payments of 1,500 rubles (30% of housing and communal services, travel and medicines). At the same time, according to the woman, they do not have benefits for children from 3 to 17 years old, since the father has an official salary. In addition, her maternity allowance, which she received a year ago, is added to calculate benefits, and now, of course, this income is not there. “But the formula is such as to count last year’s snow, but we need it now!”

And also among the “refuseniks” are those whose modest property the state for some reason evaluates as “wealth”. A family with two children aged 7 and 9, for example, lives in a small village, but cannot receive payments. “I am constantly denied payments, although we have very small incomes. But there are two cars, an old Gazelle, not running, and Priora … It’s because of these “two cars per family” that we are denied payments.

Based on the stories of such families, one can write an “All-Russian book of complaints”. Parents with many children from different regions share that “they don’t receive anything, since the income exceeds the criterion, and at the same time they barely make ends meet.” “

“The conditions for receiving assistance are unrealistic!” – this is the general opinion of applicants for benefits, alas, and remaining applicants. So the spouses have to, spitting over their shoulders – “how not to get into trouble” – go to the registry office and file for divorce. And console yourself with the fact that this divorce is not real. It’s still annoying though. They dreamed of a strong, reliable family, in which the word “divorce” cannot even be uttered – in accordance with the traditional values ​​widely promoted now. But life takes its toll…