Payments by September 1: who and under what conditions will receive money for children's school fees

It has already become a tradition: as the date of September 1 approaches, talk in society about possible mass payments for children to get ready for school grows. But there are no legislative provisions on this matter in Russia, at least not yet. However, in a number of Russian regions, certain families with children have the right to receive cash payments from local budgets to get their children ready for school. Some parents can receive support in other ways, including the possibility of cashing out the remainder of the maternity capital. This was reported by State Duma deputy Alexei Govyrin. Experts told MK which families are in question and what parents will need to receive assistance in getting their children ready for school.

Families with children can apply for financial support by September 1, but not all and only in some regions of the Russian Federation. "In 2025, some families with children will indeed be able to receive a one-time payment by the start of the school year, but such a measure applies only to certain cases," said Deputy Govyrin. "We are not talking about a mass payment, as was the case in the pandemic year of 2021, but about targeted mechanisms." First of all, according to the current law, it is possible to cash out the remaining maternity capital funds: if the amount on the certificate is less than 10 thousand rubles, then it can be received in cash without additional conditions.

Then, it should be remembered that local authorities often provide additional support measures by September 1. Thus, in Moscow, low-income and large families can count on a payment of 13,257 rubles. In St. Petersburg, parents with many children have the right to 10 thousand rubles. In the Moscow region, the standard payment is 3 thousand rubles, and low-income families can count on 7 thousand rubles. In the Vladimir region, large families can receive support in the amount of 5 thousand rubles to purchase children's clothing for classes and sportswear for physical education. School and writing kits for children from families in difficult life situations are provided at the expense of extra-budgetary funds. "Assistance at the regional level can be provided not only in monetary form, but also in kind," said Andrei Girinsky, associate professor of the RUDN University Faculty of Economics. "For example, sets of textbooks, school uniforms and other things necessary for education can be provided free of charge."

In the Bryansk region, all large families receive the payment annually in the amount of 10 thousand rubles. In the Altai region, the region annually allocates 7.5 thousand rubles for a first-grader from a large family, and 5 thousand rubles for children from such families studying in grades 2-11. "In some regions, payments are provided for large families, somewhere for low-income families, and the difference may also be that somewhere the payment is per family, somewhere for each child," notes Yulia Kovalenko, deputy head of the Higher School of Finance at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. "If we take the average amount of payments in the country, it will be about 10 thousand rubles."

According to Rosstat, in the first quarter of 2025, 11.9 million people lived below the poverty line. "According to analysts, 70% of such citizens live in families with children, that is, about 8.33 million people," said Alexander Safonov, professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. "Thus, from 1.5 million to 1.8 million children can potentially apply for payments by September 1. But the existing social legislation does not contain this kind of assistance, so it can only be provided by decision of regional authorities." At the same time, it must be recognized that school fees for any family are significant additional expenses. For example, a basic set of stationery for an elementary school student (pencil case, pens, pencils, felt-tip pens, rulers, diary) will cost 3-5 thousand rubles. A school uniform, depending on age, will range from 6 thousand to 25 thousand rubles. Plus a sports uniform - from 2.5 thousand rubles, and you also need to remember about a school bag - 1 thousand rubles. As a result, it will cost about 13 thousand rubles to get a first-grader ready. It is quite clear that low-income families may not have such money. Ideally, when implementing a comprehensive approach to demographic policy, it is necessary to provide for such expenses at the expense of the budget, Safonov believes.

In addition to large and low-income families, support can also be received by single parents and families raising disabled children. In addition, assistance is provided to families of special operation participants, guardians and foster parents, as well as families from new subjects of the Russian Federation (DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions). It should be noted separately that in a number of regions, gubernatorial gifts are provided for first-graders, which are received by all children going to first grade, regardless of their family income.

As Govyrin noted, to receive the payment, you need to apply for it at the MFC, through the State Services portal or directly to the Social Fund office. A standard set of documents is required: a passport, a certificate from school, confirmation of the status of a large or low-income family or a family entitled to support on other grounds. The application is reviewed within 10 working days, and if the decision is positive, the funds are transferred within 5 days.