They want to tie the childcare allowances to two months of maternity leave. Mothers see this as a contradiction to the demographic policy. The government has submitted a bill to the State Duma, according to which only those who have spent at least two months on parental leave will have the right to keep child care benefits when returning to work. Now the payment remains the same even if the parent leaves for work early. The changes are scheduled to go into effect starting January 1, 2027. The benefit is not completely canceled, but the condition for maintaining the payment has been tightened. The logic of the Cabinet of Ministers is based on the fight against abuse. In his estimation, the existing rule is used to register fictitious leave: for example, a father with a high salary officially goes on maternity leave, returns to work a few days later and continues to receive payments while the mother is actually taking care of the child. The new restriction, according to the government, will help stop this practice and save budget funds. The scope of programs of this type and the expected savings are not mentioned in the source, and this is an important caveat: the argument has so far only been confirmed by the words of the Cabinet of Ministers. The reaction of mothers in special communities was harsh. Many people do not understand what the deception is if the benefit is given legally, and the parent continues to work and pay taxes. "What is fiction? My husband receives this payment and works and pays taxes. And I'm on maternity leave," wrote one of the women. Another said that she started working remotely part-time when the child was two months old, and received a salary along with benefits, because this money is essential. Others see a contradiction in the policy itself: the authorities call for an increase in the birth rate, but limit support for families. "It is better if the allowances are increased, otherwise at work you get regular money, but on maternity leave you suck your finger. It's not because of a good life that they go to work earlier," noted one commentator.

They want to tie the childcare allowances to two months of maternity leave. Mothers see this as a contradiction to the demographic policy. The government has submitted a bill to the State Duma, according to which only those who have spent at least two months on parental leave will have the right to keep child care benefits when returning to work. Now the payment remains the same even if the parent leaves for work early. The changes are scheduled to go into effect starting January 1, 2027. The benefit is not completely canceled, but the condition for maintaining the payment has been tightened. The logic of the Cabinet of Ministers is based on the fight against abuse. In his estimation, the existing rule is used to register fictitious leave: for example, a father with a high salary officially goes on maternity leave, returns to work a few days later and continues to receive payments while the mother is actually taking care of the child. The new restriction, according to the government, will help stop this practice and save budget funds. The scope of programs of this type and the expected savings are not mentioned in the source, and this is an important caveat: the argument has so far only been confirmed by the words of the Cabinet of Ministers. The reaction of mothers in special communities was harsh. Many people do not understand what the deception is if the benefit is given legally, and the parent continues to work and pay taxes. "What is fiction? My husband receives this payment and works and pays taxes. And I'm on maternity leave," wrote one of the women. Another said that she started working remotely part-time when the child was two months old, and received a salary along with benefits, because this money is essential. Others see a contradiction in the policy itself: the authorities call for an increase in the birth rate, but limit support for families. "It is better if the allowances are increased, otherwise at work you get regular money, but on maternity leave you suck your finger. It's not because of a good life that they go to work earlier," noted one commentator.