Pension before the revolution. How was the pension formed in the Soviet Union? Were there pensions before the revolution

06.04.2019

Despite the rise in prices and wages, this maximum remained unchanged. Considering that the majority of pensioners received 40-60 rubles, it was absolutely impossible to live on that kind of money without the support of relatives. In 1956, under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev, pension reform - the average size of old-age pensions was increased by more than two times, for disability pensions - by one and a half times. Nikita Khrushchev is usually credited with "giving pensions to collective farmers." In fact, all collective farmers were given the same pension of 12 rubles a month, which was approximately equal to the cost of four kilograms of doctor's sausage. In 1973, pension payments were increased to 20 rubles, and in 1987 to 50 rubles. Collective farms were allowed to pay pension supplements to their pensioners.

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For example, with a salary of up to 50 rubles, a citizen retirement age could count on pension contributions in the amount of 85% of the salary, that is, only 40 rubles. Pension of People's Deputies In 1989, the highest authority appointed People's Deputies, who held congresses to discuss state issues.

The last congress took place on 09/05/1991. It was on this day that the decision was made to dissolve the deputies. At the moment, most of the people's deputies have retired for old age and in The State Duma raised the issue of raising pension payments for this category of citizens.

Attention

Today the number of “former” people's deputies is only 285 people. Ministry of Labor and social protection proposes to establish a pension amount of 200,000 rubles.

The first to officially introduce a solidary state pension for all workers in 1889 was Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Germany. Notably, these pensions were based on mandatory social insurance and contributions from employers and workers.
20 years later, Great Britain and Australia picked up the baton, and the United States of America came to the state pension system only in the 30s of the twentieth century. The state helped widows and officials В tsarist Russia rudiments pension system appeared during the reforms of Peter I.
And here is a detailed pension legislation was adopted under Nicholas I. The first government support began to use the military and their widows, as well as officials with a rank.
Subsequently, the pension system in Russia has steadily expanded to include the vast categories of people who are today called "state employees."

How pensions were paid before the revolution and in the USSR

The financial condition of the USSR pension system completely depended on the dynamics of filling the state budget. In turn, the country's budget was almost completely dependent on the dynamics of world oil prices.

In the mid-1980s, falling energy prices drove the Soviet economy into a state of collapse: the outflow of foreign exchange earnings sharply reduced general level national incomes followed by an avalanche-like drop in production. Already at the end of the 1980s, the level of the state budget deficit increased to 10% of GDP.

Social programsincluding pension provisionrolled up in all directions. But the oil crisis of the 80s only exposed the problems of the Soviet way of the pension system, and did not become their cause at all.

The number of pensioners in the USSR has increased significantly over the past 30 years: from about 14 million to 34 million from 1961 to 990.

When did the ussr begin to pay pensions?

The story turned out to be interesting. It turns out that from 1917 to 1928. no one received an old-age pension in the USSR. Since 1928, they began to be assigned to workers in some industries.

Well, the Soviet government did its best to employees only since 1937. From about the same time, collective farmers were obliged to create funds that were supposed to help pensioners every month - with money, food or workdays.

Info

The retirement age and the length of service required to receive a pension were established by the members of the agricultural cartel themselves. Until 1956, the size of pensions in the USSR was scanty. I found data about pensions for participants in the Civil War, soldiers of the Red Army, who became disabled.

They were entitled to 25 rubles. - 45 rubles. (second group of disability) and 65 rubles. (first group). Also, pensions were paid to disabled family members of such disabled people (from 15 to 45 rubles).

When the USSR began to pay old-age pensions

Pension payments for rural residents were 15% lower than the size of pension payments for city employees! Thus, the average indicators of pension contributions in the city varied from 70-120 rubles per month. But there were more high ratesFor example, the head of a large organization could receive 250 rubles a month after receiving a pension. Citizens who did not work officially received social payments in the amount of 35 rubles. Besides base size pension payments, citizens could count on premiums from the state if the following conditions are met:

Continuous work experience from 15 years - 10% to pension;
Long-term experience of more than 30 and 35 years (women and men) - 10%;
Over 25 years of experience in one enterprise - 20%.

How many were minimum pension? Minimum rates Soviet pensions were 35 rubles.

In the pre-war period (before the beginning of the Great patriotic war) the minimum standard of living of workers - in terms of the ratio of wages and the cost of the consumer basket - was recorded in 1940. It was half the standard of living of a Russian worker in 1913. In the pre-war period (before the start of the Great Patriotic War), the minimum standard of living of workers - in terms of the ratio of wages and the cost of the consumer basket - was recorded in 1940. It was half the standard of living of a Russian worker in 1913. As for the peasants, their position in the country for a long time has not changed since the period of serfdom. Peasants did not receive pensions in pre-revolutionary Russia. Under Soviet rule, rural workers were still virtually powerless. Until the 60s, when during the Khrushchev "thaw" there were significant changes in the social sphere.

From what funds were pensions paid in the USSR

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When did they start issuing pensions in the USSR?

However, some older people could apply for a pension 5 years earlier, namely:

miners;
hot shop employees;
workers textile industry;
citizens who have worked for The far north 15 (women) and 20 years (men);
women with 5 children who are already 8 years old - at least 20 years of experience;
women raising children with disabilities - 20 years of experience.

The pension was awarded subject to such conditions as:

reaching the appropriate age;
general experience of 5 years;
work experience before registration of pension contributions - 3 years and more.

Average Pension Indicators The total amount of pension payments in the USSR depended on the salary and the number of years worked.

When did it appear?
Characteristics of the USSR pension reform
Work experience
Average pension rates
How much was the minimum pension?
Maximum criteria for pension payments
Pension of People's Deputies
Pension payments to collective farmers
Pension Law

Pension reform began to develop in the late 1960s. During the formation pension policy more than 80 draft laws on pension payments were introduced.

To understand the essence of today's pension reform, every citizen should know how it all began, so today we will focus on the most important historical moments of the reform of pensioners in the USSR. When did it appear? Pension in the USSR originated in 1956, namely on July 14 after the signing of the corresponding law.

From what year did the ussr begin to pay old-age pension

In the Vologda Oblast in 1963 there were only 8.5 thousand pensioners-collective farmers, which was no more than 10% of the total number of elderly members of agricultural cartels. 6) For workers and employees, state pensions are established in 1956 by the law on state pensions... 7) With the release in 1964 of the Law on Pensions and Benefits to Members of Collective Farms 8) the final formation of the USSR pension system takes place and the state takes full responsibility for the payment of pensions. At the same time, in the decree of the USSR Council of Ministers, it was especially noted that collective farms, at their discretion, can keep their pension payments - in addition to the state pension. All subsequent years go by gradual alignment of the pension provision for collective farmers with the provision of workers and employees, thanks to the outstripping growth rates of pensions for collective farmers.
For comparison: the student scholarship in 1937 was 130 rubles. a month and live on it without additional earnings it was impossible Pensions for old age, judging by the sources that have come down to us, were only slightly more. Even in last years life of Stalin (in the 1950s), their "ceiling" was 300 rubles. with an average salary of about 1200 rubles. In other words, maximum pension accounted for only 25% of the average salary. It is clear that living on that kind of money without the support of relatives elderly people it was impossible. Khrushchev gave pensions to collective farmers But, at last, the Stalinist times are a thing of the past and Nikita Khrushchev began to lead the Soviet state. Since then, the communist pension system has flourished. In 1956, a pension reform was carried out in the USSR, which fully met the interests of workers, and the size of payments for townspeople - workers and employees - was significantly increased.

A conversation in the kitchen with relatives forced me to rummage on the Internet, since no one even approximately knew the answer to the question in the title.

The story turned out to be interesting.
It turns out that from 1917 to 1928. no one received an old-age pension in the USSR. Since 1928, they began to be assigned to workers in some industries. Well, the Soviet government did its best to employees only since 1937.

From about the same time, collective farmers were obliged to create funds that were supposed to help pensioners every month - with money, food or workdays. The retirement age, the length of service required to receive a pension, were established by the members of the agricultural cartel themselves.

Until 1956, the size of pensions in the USSR was scanty. I found data about pensions for participants in the Civil War, soldiers of the Red Army, who became disabled. They were entitled to 25 rubles. - 45 rubles. (second group of disability) and 65 rubles. (first group). Also, pensions were paid to disabled family members of such disabled people (from 15 to 45 rubles).

If we take into account that in 1937 the student stipend was 130 rubles, then people who fought who received disabilities were paid mere crumbs.

The maximum pension is 300 rubles. in the early 50s it was no more than 25% of the average salary (1200 rubles). And only under Khrushchev, starting in 1956, pensions began to grow. It would be interesting to know if anyone knows what the pensions of your grandmothers, great-grandmothers / grandfathers, and great-grandfathers were in the 30-60s. 20th century.

Against this background, the pension system of tsarist Russia looks absolutely fine and, I'm not afraid of this word, humane. By 1914, officials of all classes, clerks, officers, customs, gendarmes, school teachers, university teachers, scientists and engineers of all state-owned factories, doctors, medical personnel of all state-owned hospitals, workers of state-owned factories and railroad.

A full salary pension was awarded to those who had worked in one place for 35 years. Those who have worked in one place for at least 25 years received a pension of 50% of their salary. At the same time, the age limit, when a person could retire, in Russian Empire did not have. People knew that after working for 20 to 30 years, you can count on a pension of up to 2/3 of the salary, and with 10-20 experience - up to 1/3 of the salary.

The amount of the pension was not subject to appeal. If a pensioner died, then his family (widow, minor children) continued to receive a pension. The only exceptions were cases when a man died in a duel - in this case, the widow was deprived of material support (cruelly, yes).

Pensions were paid only to those who were not noticed in anything bad. Well, that is, he was not involved, was not fired under the article. Those who had fallen asleep were deprived of their pensions and could submit a petition to the sovereign or try to earn anew with a faultless service retirement experience in the other place.

Also, pensions were deprived of those who took monastic vows or left Russia forever.

July 14, 1956 - the day when the pension appeared in the USSR. Then the corresponding law was adopted. According to it, men could count on a pension from 60 years old, with a minimum of 25 years of experience, women - at 55 years old, they had to work for the good of the state for at least 20 years. Moreover, in the event that a person worked in difficult conditions, for example, in the Far North, or performed work that is significant for society - a teacher, a doctor - it was possible to retire earlier. The size of the pensions depended on the salary. In cities, pensioners received an average of 70 to 120 rubles.

The minimum pension in the USSR was 35 rubles. This is the so-called social pension, which was intended for people who did not work, or for those who did not receive the required experience.

The calculation of the pension was made from the account of either the average salary that a person received a year before going on a well-deserved rest, or at his choice for any five-year period out of ten years continuous work... For additional length of service, allowances were paid: for 35 years of work experience for men, and 30 years for women, as well as for work without interruptions for more than 15 years, 10 percent was supposed, for 25 years of work in the same place with a total work experience of 35 years an additional 20 percent was paid.

The maximum old-age pension was no more than 120 rubles.

A feature of the Soviet system of pension payments was that there was no centralized single pension fund... Businesses paid insurance premiums to the budget, pensions were paid from these funds. A separate conversation is the collective farmer's pension. Collective farm artels were responsible for their provision, which had a special fund for such payments. In 1964, with the adoption of new pension legislation, the country committed itself to paying pensions to all citizens.

The USSR made a significant contribution to politics in many ways modern Russia... It was during the superpower's existence that an all-encompassing pension scheme was created. This historically important law was published on July 14, 1956.

To calculate the pension salary, 2 options were used:

At the request of the future pensioner, one of the five-year plans was chosen, which is included in the ten years of continuous professional activity, the average salary in it was calculated.
The basis was the salary of a person received by him one year before reaching retirement age.
PENSION IN 1980
In 1980, the number of pensioners in the Soviet Union increased significantly. However, this did not prevent the state from timely paying their pensions at the same level, taking into account inflation, as before. The average size the pension salary during these years was 67 rubles.
PENSION AMOUNT IN 1985
In 1985, thanks to inflation and an increase in living standards, pension in the USSR reached its peak, it average value equaled 72 rubles. At the same time, collective farmers received a significantly lower amount than urban residents. Their pension averaged 47 rubles.
AVERAGE PENSION
Over the entire period of the existence of the USSR, the size of the average pension provision has undergone significant changes. The reason for this was not only inflation, but also a significant increase in the standard of living among Soviet residents.

And, if in the early 1970s the average pension was only 34 rubles, then by 1986, this amount had increased to 76 rubles. In general, the pension salary of those years is quite consistent sum of moneyreceived by modern pensioners.

MAXIMUM PENSION

In the USSR, the maximum pension was 120 rubles. It could be counted on by city dwellers working in the spheres mental labor: These are engineers, doctors and teachers. Naturally, it was received by people who worked full time.

Pension of People's Deputies

In 1989, people's deputies were appointed as the supreme body of power, who held congresses to discuss government issues. The last congress took place on 09/05/1991. It was on this day that the decision was made to dissolve the deputies. At the moment, most of the people's deputies have retired on an old age pension and in the State Duma they raised the issue of increasing pension payments for this category of citizens. Today the number of “former” people's deputies is only 285 people.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection proposes to establish a pension amount of 200,000 rubles. The main reason for the developed bill is the elimination of the provision on personal pensions for this category of citizens, in accordance with which MPs and their families could receive a decent pension. Law on Pensions The main bill of the USSR, which regulated the issues of calculating pensions, is the Law "On State Pensions" dated 07.14.1956. The law stipulates such important points, like: maximum retirement age; experience; average monthly pension and so on.

Many points of the bill are outdated long ago, but the developed reform in 1956 allowed older people to receive a decent pension. At the same time, annual inflation was not taken into account, because the prices of goods only grew every year. Therefore, adjustments were constantly made to the reform, and even at the moment, the authorities are planning to radically change the pension system so that citizens can independently form their future pension.

In the USSR, pensions are usually written in two forms.

In rainbow: each Soviet pensioner received 100-120 rubles a month.

In brown: soviet pensioners lived on 10-15 rubles a month. Interestingly, both rainbow and brown are right in their own right ...

On a unified scale, the old-age pension on a common basis for workers and employees was calculated as follows (1980s):

Monthly earnings in rubles | % To earnings | Smallest size pensions in rubles

Up to 50 rubles. - 85% of earnings - 40 rubles.

From 50 to 60 rubles. - 75% to earnings - 42 rubles. 50 kopecks

From 60 to 80 rubles. - 65% to earnings - 45 rubles.

From 80 to 100 rubles. - 55% to earnings - 52 rubles.

From 100 and above - 50% to earnings - 55 rubles.

The size of the pension in the USSR depended on the salary. A cleaning lady on a well-deserved rest received 70-80 rubles, a specialist - 120-150. Some old Bolshevik could receive a personal pension of the Union value - 300 rubles. For people who, for some reason, did not work or did not work work experience a social pension of 35 rubles was provided - the minimum pension in the USSR. The average pension in the USSR, therefore, was approximately 100 rubles - the cost of half a ton of wheat bread or a men's three-piece suit made of pure wool.

Rural residents were given 15% less pensions than workers and employees. That is, the maximum pension for this category of citizens was 102 rubles, and the minimum - 34 rubles. At the same time, villagers had a definite advantage over workers and employees. The point is that the workers rural pensioners received their pension in full, regardless of their earnings. It was more difficult for workers and employees with this - a working pensioner could not have a total income (pension + salary) in excess of a certain amount. In case of exceeding the limit, the pension was reduced by the amount of this very excess.

The old-age pension was established on a general basis when men reached 60 years old, and women 55 years old, when general experience work for at least 25 and 20 years, respectively.

An old-age pension for incomplete work experience was assigned to workers and employees if the following conditions were met:

reaching the retirement age (see above) during the period of employment,
if they have worked for a total of at least five years,
have worked for at least three years immediately before retirement,
applied for a pension no later than month term from the date of termination of work. Note that no allowances were added to this pension.

Additional allowances were also added to the standard pension (this did not apply to pensioners with part-time work experience).

Allowance 1: Per continuous experience work (over 15 years) - 10%.

Allowance 2: For a long work experience (over 35 years for men and over 30 years for women) - 10% Both allowances could not be charged at the same time. Either the first or the second.

Allowance 3: For a long continuous length of service at one enterprise (25 years) with a long total length of service (35 years) - 20%. This allowance could not be calculated with other allowances.

Organizing social security the Soviet period began literally in the first days after October revolution... So, already on October 29 (according to the new style on November 11), 1917, the head of the new government, Vladimir Lenin, signed a decree on the creation of the People's Commissariat of State Charity.

Already on October 30 (November 12), Lenin had a conversation with Alexandra Kollontai, who, after a great experience of party work at the beginning of the 20th century, was invited to the post of first minister in the Soviet government. The choice of a candidate for the post of People's Commissar of Charity was not accidental.

Alexandra Kollontai headed the People's Commissariat of State Charity for only a few months: from October 30, 1917 to March 19, 1918. But even for such short term the activities of the first people's commissar of charity played an important role in the formation of guardianship bodies in the Soviet Republic - in the extraordinary conditions of waging two wars (world and civil), with a huge flow of wounded soldiers and people left without a livelihood.

In August 1918, pensions were introduced for the disabled of the Red Army, in 1923 - for party activists ("old Bolsheviks"). In 1928 - for workers in the mining and textile industries. Universal pensions for urban workers and employees will be introduced only in 1937.

Pension provision for servicemen in the early years of Soviet power was regulated by the decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of October 29, 1924 "On the approval of the Code of Laws on Benefits and Benefits for Servicemen of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army and the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet of the USSR and their families."

Literally on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, on June 5, 1941, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution "On pensions for servicemen and their families", which determined the size of the pension depending on the salary and reasons for the disability of servicemen.

With the end of the NEP period and the beginning of collectivization in 1929, the standard of living of the working population fell rapidly.

In the pre-war period (before the start of the Great Patriotic War), the minimum standard of living of workers - in terms of the ratio of wages and the cost of the consumer basket - was recorded in 1940. It was half the standard of living of a Russian worker in 1913.

As for the peasants, their position in the country did not change for a long time, starting with the period of serfdom. Peasants did not receive pensions in pre-revolutionary Russia. Under Soviet rule, rural workers were still virtually powerless. Until the 60s, when during the Khrushchev "thaw" there were significant changes in the social sphere. At the same time, the formation of the Soviet pension system was basically completed, which for the first time became universal.

In 1956, the USSR adopted the Law "On State Pensions".

In 1964, with the adoption of the Law "On Pensions and Benefits to Members of Collective Farms", collective farmers received pension rights for the first time in the Soviet Union.

Beginning in the 1960s, the Soviet pension system included two basic components: pension provision for workers and employees of state enterprises and pension provision for collective farmers. For the first time, a universal right to receive an old-age pension was formalized by law.

In the period 1973-1974, a disability and survivor's pension was introduced.

Some categories of workers were entitled to receive seniority pensions, but these norms, like many other exceptions to general rule the assignment of pensions in the Soviet Union was regulated by separate laws.

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Pension benefits in the USSR were virtually free for workers. In the absence of insurance deductions from citizens' income, pensions were financed from public consumption funds.

Sources of pension payments were formed at the expense of the state budget and deductions from the fund wages enterprises (the deduction rate ranged from 4% to 12%, depending on the field of activity).

One more distinctive feature Soviet pension system - low age retirement age: 60 years for men and 55 years for women. This bar has remained unchanged since the early 1930s, when it was established based on the results of a commission survey of workers and women workers retiring on a disability pension. The conclusions of the commissions boiled down to the following conclusion: "By the age of 55, the majority of women and by the age of 60, the majority of men lose the opportunity to continue working."

On the one hand, the early retirement age was considered one of the special privileges of workers under socialism. On the other hand, it was unprofitable for the state to increase the age limit: early exit retirement was a kind of compensation for the low amount of pension payments.

In addition, the level retirement service the state used as effective tool employment regulation: the preferential retirement age - when it was possible to retire much earlier than 60 and 55 years old - was established when dangerous conditions labor, as well as for those working in extreme climatic conditions, for example, in the Far North and the Far East. Moreover, all regional and sectoral benefits were provided exclusively through government funding. Like many other retirement benefits, which for the entire soviet history a lot has happened.

The system of pension privileges in the USSR began to take shape already in the first years of Soviet power.

The first Decree of the Council of People's Commissars "On personal pensions to persons who have exceptional services to the republic”Was published on February 16, 1923, with amendments and additions in the Decree of April 24 of the same year.

Regardless of the specific merits to the state, throughout the Soviet period of pensions, there were three categories of pension privileges:pensioners of union, republican and local significance.

Traditionally, the right to receive a personal pension was granted to outstanding scientists, honored party workers, as well as bearers of honorary titles and awards: Heroes Soviet Union, Heroes of Socialist Labor, full holders of the Order of Glory (three degrees).

The size of the federal pension was 250 rubles a month. Republican and local significance - 160 and 140 rubles per month, respectively. Along with the regular cash payment personal pensioners received an annual supplement for health improvement - in the amount of one or two monthly pensions.

Personal pension rates were relatively low compared to departmental allowances.

For example, full members of the USSR Academy of Sciences received a bonus for academic title in the amount of 500 rubles a month. Corresponding members - 400 rubles. The additional payment for the title was paid for life: first in the form of a salary increase, then - to a pension.

Military pensioners were also in a special position in the USSR. The pension level of retired officers was, on average, twice the level of civilian pensions. For example, retired officers of the army and security agencies received a pension salary of 250 rubles a month, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - 220 rubles. The level of pensions for senior command personnel started at 300 rubles a month.

Moreover, the officers on top positions were one of the few categories of pensioners in the Soviet Union who had the privilege of continuing to serve without age restrictions. Which in itself was a significant increase in retirement income.

Despite the variety of pension benefits, including compensation for special working conditions - average level pension provision in the USSR still remained rather low relative pension income in European countries, including yielding european countries the so-called "socialist camp".

One of the reasons for this situation was imperfect pension legislation. In the Soviet Union, there was no legislative provision for the possibility of indexing pension payments in connection with changes in the external and internal economic situation. They changed much more often than there was a real increase in pensions in the country. Also, the regulations for changing the rates of the minimum and maximum pensions, depending on the growth of wages, were not spelled out.

The problems of pension provision in the country sharply escalated in the late 1980s. At that time, there was a whole complex of reasons why this was happening.

In the mid-1980s, the fall in energy prices drove the Soviet economy into a state of collapse: the outflow of foreign exchange earnings sharply reduced the overall level of national income, followed by an avalanche-like drop in production.

Already at the end of the 1980s, the level of the state budget deficit increased to 10% of GDP. Social programs, including pensions, were phased out in all directions.

But the oil crisis of the 80s only exposed the problems of the Soviet way of the pension system, and did not become their cause at all.

The number of pensioners in the USSR has increased significantly over the past 30 years: from about 14 million to 34 million from 1961 to 990. At the same time, the rates of social contributions for enterprises remained practically unchanged. The share of government funding for pensions has steadily increased. By 1980, the share of subsidies from the union budget in the state social insurance fund reached 60%.

In pursuance of the USSR law "On urgent measures to improve pension provision and social service population "the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of December 30, 1989" On the tariffs of contributions for state social insurance in trade unions "was adopted.

Adopted regulatory changes pension savings in the USSR in new economic conditions operated, however, for a very short time: from January 1, 1990 to January 1, 1991.

As for the general flaws in the pay-as-you-go pension system in the Soviet Union, the most important of them were as follows.

First, the lack of a unified pension strategy with unified rules for assigning pensions. Multiple options for pension schemes along with additional social benefits and privileges (regional, sectoral, status and others) gave rise to an opaque and extremely cumbersome system for calculating individual pensions.

Second, the selectivity of action pension law, which became especially noticeable with the adoption in the USSR of the law on entrepreneurial activity. The massive emergence of private enterprises and the development of forms of independent employment have actually deprived the most active groups population.

Third, regarding early age retirement (60 years for men and 55 years for women) in the context of general “aging” of the population increased the burden on the pension system, and above all on the state budget. The critical dependence of the USSR pension system on budgetary filling has led to a critically low margin of safety social system the country as a whole.

Given that the country's constitution declared universal social guarantees, the general standard of living in the last years of the existence of the USSR fell sharply, including due to an increase in the share of the population of retirement age. According to studies of living standards conducted in the 1980s, up to 80% of the poor in the Soviet Union were retirees, mostly of older and older ages.

The pension system existed even under the tsarist regime. But today we want to tell you how the “fate” of pension payments developed after the revolution? And how did you build a scheme thanks to which Soviet pensioners could live carefree, and even help children and grandchildren?

In the early years, they helped the disabled and orphans

After the revolution, the Soviet government immediately embarked on the implementation of the Leninist insurance program outlined at the VI All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP. Of course, pension insurance at that time was no longer a novelty in the country, but in tsarist Russia workers were not paid pensions for old age and disability caused by a general disease. Their families did not receive anything even in case of loss of breadwinners.

The Soviet government decided to fill all these gaps. Already on November 1, 1917, a government message on social insurance was published. In it, for the first time, the state took upon itself material support the elderly, disabled, widows and orphans. At the same time, due to the difficult economic situation, the young country at that time still could not introduce old-age pensions. There was a civil war, and first of all it was required to provide pensions for disabled Red Army soldiers.

Under Stalin, old people were added to life by their relatives

When peace came and life in the country improved somewhat, in 1928 an old-age pension was introduced for workers and employees. At the same time, the lowest retirement age in the world was set: 60 years for men, 55 for women. At the same time, the authorities have improved pensions for disabled people and families who have lost their breadwinner.

Nevertheless, pensions were still very low, for example, in 1937 a disabled person of the 1st group received 65 rubles, the 2nd group - 45 rubles, and the 3rd group - 25 rubles. For comparison: the student scholarship in 1937 was 130 rubles. a month and it was impossible to live on it without additional earnings

The old-age pension, judging by the sources that have come down to us, was only slightly higher. Even in the last years of Stalin's life (in the 1950s), their "ceiling" was 300 rubles. with an average salary of about 1200 rubles. In other words, the maximum pension was only 25% of the average salary. It is clear that it was impossible for the elderly to live on that kind of money without the support of relatives.

Khrushchev gave pensions to collective farmers

But, finally, the Stalinist times are a thing of the past and Nikita Khrushchev began to lead the Soviet state. Since then, the communist pension system has flourished. In 1956, a pension reform was carried out in the USSR, which fully met the interests of workers, and the size of payments for townspeople - workers and employees - was significantly increased. In addition, for the first time, pensions were introduced for collective farmers, although they were calculated according to a separate system and were lower than those of other workers.

This system remained almost unchanged until the collapse of the USSR. Its postulates were simple, understandable and accessible to every citizen of the country of advice:

the retirement age is 60 years for men and 55 years for women;
the length of service required for the appointment of a pension - 25 years for men and 20 years for women;
the size of the pension - half of the employee's average salary for the last two or any five years of working life;
The "ceiling" of the pension is 120 rubles a month.

It is also important to note that workers were allowed to work even after retirement, while the pension was retained. But it was possible to occupy the chair of a specialist and keep a pension only in areas where there was a shortage of personnel, for example, in medicine.

If we talk about the size of pensions, then at first glance, they may seem small. However, it must be remembered that in those days the state subsidized low prices for bread, milk, utilities, public transport and cinema tickets. Also provided free of charge medical services... Since, in addition, pensioners did not have to spend money on children and acquiring durable items (furniture, televisions and refrigerators in soviet families served for decades), they often turned out to be better off than adult children. And, of course, they helped their descendants, which had a beneficial effect on their moral well-being, and therefore on their health.

On a note

There were also privileged pensioners in the USSR. They received a so-called personal pension. different meaning - district, city, regional, republican, all-union. Its size was determined by the government. Based on some sources of those years, experts argue that the "ceiling" of such pensions, even for the highest officials of the USSR, did not exceed 300 rubles.