Social security system in Russia

The social security system in Russia incorporates various forms of government support intended to provide adequate standard of living and improve the quality of life of the particular categories of citizens, including those from vulnerable groups.

In 996, Vladimir the Great has issued a Charter (law), which entrusted social care and public charity to the supervision of the Orthodox Church.

According to The Russian Primary Chronicle, Vladimir the Great also created almshouses, hospice houses and frequently gave food to the poor.

[4] Vladimir II Monomakh also paid significant attention to the care of poor, ill, and fragile members of society.

In Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh's Instruction to His Children written in the XII century, he emphasized:[6] "Above all else, don’t forget the poor, but support them to the extent of your power.

At the same time, Peter the Great forbade giving alms directly to beggars, and by the Decree of 3 May 1720, he established a social assistance for retired soldiers ('invalid'), ordering to provide them with pensions and residence in monasteries and almshouses.

[10] Catherine the Great also established the first nursing home in Russia for the care of wounded, sick and elderly soldiers and their families.

The main goal of the newly-formed State in the first years of its existence was to overcome the economic and social consequences of the October Revolution and Russian Civil War.

From the beginning of 1922, the provision of social security benefits was based mainly on the ability to perform work duties.

[8] The State established pensions for the loss of a breadwinner for workers' families, financial support in case of temporary disability.

Women with small children were granted the right to have breastfeeding breaks from work and financial support for childbirth and childcare.

Article 120 of the Constitution secured the right of soviet citizens to financial benefits due to old age, illness, and disability.

[14] The government started to open special colleges, boarding schools, and other institutions aimed at helping returned soldiers, who were often got disabled during the war, get an education and jobs.

These legislative acts provided additional social benefits for disabled people such as free use of public transport and increased the amount of money spent on children's meals in kindergartens and orphanages.

The social security system during Perestroika was aimed at solving the problems that existed earlier in the Soviet society, but were not addressed properly by the legislation.