The State Duma Committee proposed to simplify the receipt of subsidies for housing and communal services

The State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Public Utilities sent recommendations to the government to simplify the issuance of subsidies for housing and communal services. It is assumed that instead of a large package of documents, it will be enough to submit one application, and the rest of the information can be requested as part of “interdepartmental interaction”, they say. “News” with a link to the document. Committee Chairman Sergei Pakhomov said that it is necessary to make sure that people receive subsidies “as painlessly as possible for their time and nerves.”

Now, in order to receive subsidies, it is necessary to apply to the social protection authorities, the MFC or other institutions (by decision of the region). You need to come in person and provide a number of documents in paper form – a certificate of income, certificates of state registration of property rights, marriage or its dissolution, birth of children. Instead, it is proposed to confine ourselves to a statement through the State Services or a personal visit to the MFC, Vladimir Koshelev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee, explained.

Other recommendations include:

• reduce the maximum threshold for spending on housing and communal services in the total family income from 22% to 15% (now the regions have their own thresholds);
• send the allocated funds directly to service providers (the person will receive a payment minus the paid subsidy);
• develop a special online calculator for calculating the total family income and the amount of the subsidy.

The recommendations were prepared as a result of parliamentary hearings in the State Duma, which were held as a result of public discussions in 60 regions. They have not yet entered the government apparatus. The Ministry of Construction told Izvestia that it conceptually supports the simplification of the procedure for citizens to receive subsidies for paying for housing and communal services, but has also not yet received a draft regulatory act.

Last time another indexation of tariffs for housing and communal services passed seven months ahead of schedule – December 1, 2022 instead of July 1, 2023. The Ministry of Economy said that the increase in tariffs would average 9%. This was their second increase this year – after indexing by 4% in July. The decision was explained by the need to update the communal infrastructure and the fact that in recent years indexation has been below the level of inflation.

Laura Keffer