Not every pensioner can engage in work. Some are in poor health, others are not hired because of old age. For this reason, pension recipients are classified as socially vulnerable segments of the population, and the state supports them.
In the Russian Federation, there are many programs aimed at reducing the costs of pensioners. This also includes transport benefits.
Types of Russian Railways benefits for pensioners
Russian Railways makes discounts and gives benefits on long-distance trains, as well as on commuter trains for pensioners. They are divided into 2 types: the opportunity to travel for free on railway transport, reduction in ticket prices.
A free ticket can be purchased once every 12 months. At the same time, the pensioner must buy it to send to a sanatorium or resort. It seems that this benefit is quite insignificant. However, it allows you to reduce the costs of a citizen who needs treatment or rehabilitation on the other side of Russia.
The second, more popular type of discount is a reduction in the price of a train ticket. The amount of the discount depends on:
- citizen status (labor veteran, war veteran);
- the place to which the citizen is going;
- time of year.
Typically the benefits are equal to 50% of the ticket price.
Reference! To receive a discount, you must present your pensioner ID to the cashier.
Types of benefits for travel on trains
By definition, a benefit is an advantage or exemption from compliance. The benefits provided for railway transport are regulated by the Law “On State Social Support” No. 178-FZ, dated July 17, 1999. There is also a complete list of persons who can resort to Russian Railways transport benefits, including WWII veterans, home front workers, participants in the Chernobyl accident, disabled people and pensioners. Regional government structures have the right to increase this list, taking into account local characteristics. Beneficiaries can take advantage of free travel and reduced ticket prices when going, for example, to a place of treatment.
Providing free travel
A 100% discount on railway travel is provided to pensioners. This significantly affects their costs, given the cost of long-distance train tickets.
Attention! The free ticket is available only once a year and only when traveling to a sanatorium for treatment.
Reduced cost of train tickets
Discounts provided by the government will help reduce transportation costs. The discount price of Russian Railways train tickets decreases depending on some factors. For example, pension status (combatant, labor veteran, etc.) or remoteness.
Basically, discounts are 50% and apply to long-distance trains.
Other privileges and promotions from Russian Railways
In mid-spring 2021, a joint program between the Social Insurance Fund and Russian Railways was launched. It aims to provide electronic tickets for persons entitled to free travel to the sanatorium/resort. Currently, you do not need to visit the box office in person to purchase free tickets. Everything can be done remotely. The pensioner will only need to present his passport at the railway ticket office. Information about benefit recipients is posted on the Russian Railways server.
Certain citizens have the right to purchase free tickets 3 times every 12 months . This includes Heroes of Russia, the USSR, as well as holders of the Order of Glory. They can go anywhere for free 2 times a year and 1 time to a sanatorium/resort.
Benefits for pensioners on travel to the place of treatment?
There is a separate category of citizens who have the right to discounted travel to and from their place of treatment.
First of all, such support measures are aimed at ensuring travel for former participants in various military operations. They can travel to the place of their treatment without paying for travel, and also return back free of charge, but for this they must have a confirmed and signed referral from a medical organization.
You can receive a referral only after a complete examination and confirmation by doctors of the presence of chronic diseases.
To register and purchase a discounted train ticket for travel to the place of treatment, you must take with you identification documents of the passenger, as well as documents that are needed to confirm the right to free travel. You will also need a special coupon, which will be issued by the social authority. insurance.
List of categories of passengers who are entitled to free travel to and from the place of treatment in the Russian Federation:
- Disabled war veterans;
- Participants of the Great Patriotic War;
- Combat veterans;
- Those serving in the war who served in military units, institutions, etc.;
- Citizens who have the badge of a Resident of besieged Leningrad;
- Persons who worked during the Second World War at air defense facilities, etc.;
- Family members of disabled people who died in the war and during hostilities, etc.;
- Disabled people;
- Category of disabled people under eighteen years of age;
- Former prisoners of fascism under eighteen years of age;
- Persons accompanying disabled people of the first group and disabled children;
- Citizens who were affected by radiation as a result of the Chernobyl disaster and persons who are equated to this category.
Please note that when issuing a ticket electronically, you will need an identification document. When issuing a paper ticket, you need to present not only your passport, but also a special coupon, which can be obtained from the regional office of the FSS of the Russian Federation.
Discounts on electric trains
Benefits for travel on electric trains are regulated by the following legislative acts of Russia:
- Federal Law “On Education”;
- Federal Law “On Veterans”;
- Federal Law “On the Provision of Social Benefits”.
It should be taken into account that each region sets its own rules for providing discounts.
Individuals who:
- incapacitated;
- participated in the Great Patriotic War;
- are blockade runners;
- have the title of labor or war veteran;
- were imprisoned in concentration camps;
- are relatives of a deceased veteran of the Great Patriotic War;
- suffered from an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant;
- guard the railway.
Benefits for retired railway workers
Russian Railways pensioners who do not work can count on:
- benefits for travel on railway transport (including with minor children);
- 7,500 rubles monthly (for Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of Russia, labor veterans). Payments are provided by the charitable organization "Honour";
- free treatment in Russian Railways medical institutions to which they are attached;
- receiving free fuel for the car or compensation for the costs of its purchase (in agreement with the trade union);
- payment for dental prosthetics;
- compensation payment to your relatives after death (6900 rubles for burial).
Attention! Benefits are an effective means of allowing Russian Railways to retain its staff and attract new employees.
Traveling on a long-distance train
The additional status of a pensioner determines his benefits for travel on long-distance trains. In accordance with the Federal Law “On Veterans” dated January 12, 1995 No. 5, a retired person is provided with:
- Travel is free twice throughout the year for any purpose and additionally once for treatment. To do this you need to be Heroes of the Soviet Union or Russia or have a full set of Orders of Glory.
- Trips are free once throughout the year if the pensioner has been awarded a full set of orders for military service in the USSR or Labor Glory, or has the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
Pensioners with this status can receive train tickets for free for any class of carriage. The cashier is required to provide a certificate confirming the status: a Hero's book, an order book, a book or a sheet of coupons.
Pensioners living in the Far North receive compensation from the state for the costs of Russian Railways tickets (direct and return) when they go on vacation. This benefit is guaranteed by Government Decree No. 176 dated April 1, 2005.
Registration of preferential travel
Some citizens believe that discounts on railway travel are already included in pension benefits.
However, they are not awarded automatically. They need to be formalized. To do this, you need to visit the Pension Fund. First, a petition is drawn up. In it, the pensioner must indicate his own intention to become a beneficiary. The application must include the following information:
- last name, first name, patronymic of the pensioner;
- passport data;
- types of benefits;
- reasons for providing discounts;
- list of documents attached to the application.
It is possible to confirm the existence of grounds for receiving discounts using the following documents:
- certificate of disability;
- labor veteran certificate;
- blockade runner's certificate;
- a document confirming participation in the liquidation of the Chernobyl accident;
- document confirming previous work for Russian Railways.
The application is filled out according to the legally established form. The form can be found online and printed. It can also be taken from any division of the Russian Pension Fund.
After completing the application, it must be submitted along with a set of papers to the nearby PFR unit. You will need a passport, as well as papers confirming the grounds for providing benefits. You also need to prepare photocopies of these documents, which are notarized. If the copy is not certified, it loses its legal force.
The final stage is obtaining documents. The Pension Fund notifies the pensioner of its decision after considering the application . The citizen is informed of the day and time at which to come for documents. The pensioner must come to the PFR unit at the registration address and sign several papers to confirm receipt of benefits.
Important! Acquiring rights to benefits and using them is optional. A citizen can decide for himself whether he needs benefits for railway travel or whether it is better to receive an additional payment to his pension.
It is necessary to weigh both options, taking into account how often you travel by train, whether you plan to visit relatives living in another city, and whether you will need sanatorium treatment.
It is advisable to check with social security institutions once a year to find out exactly what benefits you can receive. Legislation in this area changes frequently, both at the federal and regional levels.
Promotions and discounts for pensioners in Russian Railways
There are also additional promotions that senior citizens can take advantage of when purchasing a ticket. The list of promotions is also available on the official website of Russian Railways, where up-to-date data on sales is always available. https://www.rzd.ru/ru/9336
Promotions when purchasing tickets for pensioners:
- Passenger's Day. From November 28 to December 27, ticket prices for some destinations will be halved;
- Round trip promotion. Applicable when purchasing two round trip train tickets. The price is reduced by 10-20%;
- Single ticket to Crimea. The purchased ticket for all types of transport will take the pensioner to one of the cities closest to the peninsula. The discount is up to 30% and is valid from May 30 to September 30;
- The earlier the ticket is purchased, the greater the discount on it. Discounts for the “Plan Ahead” promotion range from 10 to 55%. It all depends on the direction and date;
- Promotion on New Year's Eve. Tickets purchased between the third of December and the thirty-first of December will be sold with a 50% discount on the top seats in reserved seats and compartments;
- A 40% discount in a reserved seat carriage when purchasing upper side seats from 01.10 to 21.12.
There are also discounts for pensioners on high-speed trains:
- On Sapsan, passengers over retirement age receive a 60% discount, and an additional 10% discount on the round-trip fare;
- Sapsan also offers a 50% discount for the week after the birthday for the birthday boy and three companions;
- Preferential travel on the Swift. For pensioners there is a 35% discount, it is also available a week before and after the birthday. On other days, pensioners receive a 30% discount.
