Parental sense: heroine mothers will be equalized in benefits with the Heroes of Russia

Women with 10 or more children will be able to receive new benefits similar to those enjoyed by Heroes of Russia and Heroes of Labor. Such a bill was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, they will have the right to receive free ownership of a land plot, building materials, free vocational training and additional education. At the same time, some of the support measures can be replaced with monthly payments. About what other social measures can be provided to heroine mothers and how many such women there are in Russia, see the Izvestia article.

Who can be recognized as a "Heroine Mother"

Social support measures can be expanded for women who raise 10 or more children and have the title of "Mother Heroine". In particular, it is planned to equalize their benefits with the Heroes of Russia and the Heroes of Labor. Such a bill, developed by the Ministry of Labor, was approved on June 30 by the government commission on legislative activity (the document is available to Izvestia). This was reported by sources in the Cabinet.

In May 2022, Natalia Karpovich, Chairman of the Moscow Association of Large Families, made a proposal to revive the honorary title. In particular, she pointed out the need to introduce additional support measures for mothers with many children and recalled that in Soviet times, those who gave birth to ten or more children received the special status of a heroine mother. Head of State Vladimir Putin supported the initiative. The corresponding decree was signed in August of the same year.

In Russia, the title of "Mother Heroine" is on a par with such top awards as Hero of Labor, said Regina Gilmanova, a lawyer at the Sokolov, Trusov and Partners Law Firm in Moscow.

"Women who have given birth to and raised 10 or more children can apply for the highest degree of distinction," she explained. — The youngest should not be less than a year old. This takes into account children who died in the performance of military duty, suffered as a result of a terrorist act, or went missing. Both own and adopted children participate in the calculation. At the same time, the family must demonstrate a high level of care for the health, education and comprehensive development of all its members.

The local authorities or the management of the enterprise where she works can nominate a woman for an honorary title, the expert noted. The degree of compliance is checked by a special commission, its members assess the social responsibility of the family.

— For example, they evaluate the home and the conditions in which children grow up, study the success of children in education or sports, and the social burden, — said Regina Gilmanova.

Deserved attention: for fathers with many children it is proposed to establish state awards

They are increasingly less likely to be relegated to the role of "secondary" parent in society, experts suggest

After approval at the local (municipal, rural) level, the application goes higher — to the level of the subject of the Russian Federation, and then to the federal authorities.

Now the heroine mother and her family can count on discounts on housing and communal services up to 30% and above, free medicines, free public transport, priority for admission to kindergartens, the right or priority for obtaining land plots, preferential loans with state support.

What will be the new support measures?

Among the social benefits that will be guaranteed to women awarded the title of "Mother Heroine" are support measures in the areas of medical care, public utilities, including exemption from paying for housing and utilities, Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board of the Russian Bar Association, recalled.

In particular, these include free medical care, hospitalization and treatment in hospitals, provision of prescription drugs, free rest in a sanatorium once a year, as well as exemption from utility bills, free use of public transport, and improved housing conditions with the provision of additional living space of up to 15 square meters. m.

In addition, it provides for the right to receive a land plot free of charge and to provide construction materials as a matter of priority. In the event of the death of the heroine's mother, her burial will also be paid for by the state.

But the heroine mothers will be able to replace part of the benefits with a monthly cash payment, subject to annual indexation. The financial and economic justification for the draft law states that in 2025 monthly payments will amount to 72.4 thousand rubles, in 2026 - 75.6 thousand rubles, in 2027 — 78.6 thousand rubles.

Mommy, don't worry: all periods of maternity leave will be taken into account in the insurance record

And the pensions of parents with five or more children will rise

Since 2022, about 120 women have received the title of "Mother Heroine", including 71 in 2024. It is expected that 18 more people will receive the title in 2025. 36 mothers are planning to be presented with the award annually, according to the draft law of the Ministry of Labor.

"The draft law is extremely important in the context of the demographic crisis and is designed to create additional guarantees and incentives for the development of the institution of large families in Russia,— Vladimir Gruzdev emphasized. — In the future, the number of heroic mothers will only grow, and therefore we are seeing a significant increase in support for women with such an honorable status from the state.

The changes are expected to take effect on January 1, 2026.

What measures are missing

Nina Ostanina, head of the State Duma Committee for Family Protection, called the proposed amendments a wonderful idea.

— These are the relevant measures yesterday, today and tomorrow, — she reminded. — The title "Mother Heroine" was introduced in the USSR in 1944, when the feat of the mother was equated with a military one. Today it is quite obvious that we are returning to the recognition of the feat of the mother woman, equating them with the Heroes of Russia and the Heroes of Labor. This is an absolutely correct proposal that can only be supported. I think it will be welcomed in society.

Tatyana Butskaya, Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family Protection, Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood, stressed that such women deserve special recognition and support.

— The title of "Mother Heroine" is not only about giving birth to 10 or more children, but also about educating them, — said the deputy. — They are all Heroes of Labor for the benefit of the Motherland by birth and upbringing of children. The president spoke about this measure, and now we are putting it into practice.

However, large families often face a number of problems. For example, the six-year maximum period of child care included in the pension insurance record has not yet been legally abolished, said Sergey Rybalchenko, head of the Public Chamber's Commission on Demography, Family Protection, Children and Traditional Family Values, Director General of the Institute of Scientific and Public Expertise. At the end of last year, the President of the Russian Federation took the initiative to lift this restriction.

— The bill on this is currently under discussion, but has not yet been implemented. In my opinion, there should be no obstacles to this, these are not such significant costs," Sergei Rybalchenko told Izvestia.

Large families face other problems, the expert recalled. In his opinion, the improvement of housing conditions remains a priority.

— In fact, they have very limited opportunities to solve their housing problems. Mortgages for most of them remain unaffordable even on preferential terms," he stressed.

According to the monitoring data of the Public Chamber, there are still difficulties with additional education for children from large families — attending sections and clubs.

— Large families note this not only as one of the main problems in the education system, but also as a barrier to the appearance of new children in the family, — Sergey Rybalchenko added.

According to him, there are also problems of accessibility of higher and secondary vocational education for children from such families.

"These measures are being taken in a number of regions, but there are no such programs at the federal level," he stressed.

There are also no uniform standards for providing school and sportswear, as well as meals in educational institutions for children from large families.

— As a result, the amount of funds allocated for the purchase of school clothes from region to region differs by six or more times, it follows from the data of our monitoring — the expert drew attention.

According to him, social nannies are available in less than half of the regions, which are also in great need of parents with many children.