Question from Irina K.: “My father passed away seven years ago before reaching retirement age. Can my mother inherit his pension savings, and what does she need to do?”
Components of a Pension
Since January 1, 2015, the old-age pension in Russia consists of three parts:
Fixed payment — a state-guaranteed amount that depends on age, number of dependents, disability status, and place of residence. The base amount for most pensioners is approximately 4,558.93 rubles.
Insurance portion — accrued from the employer’s contributions. Calculated using a formula that incorporates the individual pension coefficient (pension points). The value of each point increases annually.
Funded portion — formed from employer insurance contributions and investment returns. Paid out monthly and for the lifetime of the pensioner.
What Can Be Inherited
Strictly speaking, a pension is not part of the estate. However, the funded portion may be transferred to successors — through a mechanism analogous to inheritance.
A funded pension exists for:
- Citizens born in 1967 or later participating in the mandatory pension insurance system
- Men born 1953–1966 and women born 1957–1966 on whose behalf employers made funded pension contributions between 2002 and 2004
The key condition: the person died before beginning to receive the funded pension. If payments had already commenced, the remaining balance does not transfer to successors.
The inherited amount is not subject to personal income tax (NDFL).
Procedure for Receiving the Savings
Step 1. Contact the Pension Fund
An application must be filed within six months of the insured person’s death. If the deceased did not designate successors during his or her lifetime, relatives must contact the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation (PFR) directly.
If the six-month period has elapsed, it may be reinstated by a court upon a showing of valid cause. Courts have recognized ignorance of the existence of the savings as a valid reason for reinstatement.
Step 2. Prepare the Documents
- Passport of the successor
- Document confirming the family relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate)
- SNILS (insurance number) of the deceased
- Death certificate
Step 3. Receive the Decision
If the deceased filed a distribution designation during his or her lifetime, the funds are divided in accordance with that designation.
If no designation was made, the statutory order of succession applies:
- First priority: children (including adopted), spouse, parents
- Second priority: siblings, grandparents, grandchildren
Successors of the same priority receive equal shares.
Answer to Irina’s Question
Her father passed away before reaching retirement age and without receiving any pension — this means the funded portion is preserved and may be received by successors.
What her mother should do:
- Contact the local office of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation
- Bring: her passport, the marriage certificate, her father’s SNILS, and his death certificate
- File an application for payment of the accumulated savings
If more than six months have passed since the death, a petition to reinstate the deadline must be filed in court. Courts have recognized ignorance of the existence of the savings as a valid reason for reinstatement.
If your relative passed away without drawing on his or her pension savings, do not miss the opportunity to recover those funds. We can help you gather the necessary documents and, if needed, prepare a court filing to reinstate the missed deadline.