A little experience with Russian social security

During my time studying abroad in Moscow, I brought back two distinct memories: an ancient Moscow with majestic architectural works and romantic golden autumn, and a familiar Moscow through very ordinary experiences in studying and daily life.

Student ID card of a student at a Russian university. Photo: M.D.HL

That attachment begins with a seemingly small student card, but it is the “key” that opens up many great benefits for young people far from home. In addition to proving that a student is a student, the student card is also used to get discounts on public transportation.

Not only that, when visiting museums or theaters, just show your student card, the ticket price is reduced by almost half or on special days, you can enter for free to participate in exhibitions, seminars, lectures, concerts and much more. Thanks to this, we - students with limited budgets - have the opportunity to access the rich cultural life of Russia.

For an international student living in a large, expensive city like Moscow, such specific benefits reduce financial pressure on students, make living more feasible, contribute to ensuring students' rights, encourage learning, and demonstrate the connection between social policy, education and the development of young human resources.

It is worth noting that these policies do not stop at supporting a small group, but anyone who is eligible (students, the elderly, families with many children, etc.) can access them. The social security system in Russia is not limited to small utilities, but is also implemented at the macro level with many policies that have far-reaching impacts.

One of the most prominent, long-term strategic policies is the Maternity Capital program, which has been implemented since 2007. According to RIA Novosti, from February 1, 2025, the support for the first child is more than 8,000 USD, while for the second child and beyond, this level is up to nearly 11,000 USD, if the family has not received it before. What is special is that this support, in addition to cash, is also oriented to be used for long-term, practical needs such as buying or improving housing, paying for children's education, or contributing to the mother's pension fund.

According to the announcement of the Russian Social Fund, as of 2023, more than 13.8 million Russian families have received support from Maternity Capital, with a total budget of thousands of billions of rubles. However, Russia is still facing a population problem as the birth rate declines. The government has been adjusting policies, extending the Maternity Capital program until at least 2030, expanding the beneficiaries, and combining it with other support measures such as increasing maternity leave, tax exemptions for families with many children...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/chut-trai-nghiem-voi-an-sinh-xa-hoi-nga-3306220.html