While discussions about the retirement age dominate the news, a quieter fact goes unnoticed: millions of Russians hold real money in accounts at the Social Fund of Russia (SFR) or private pension funds (NPF). This is the funded (accumulative) component of the Russian pension.

For example, women born in 1983 who worked officially between 2002 and 2013 may now have more than 673,000 roubles on their SFR account — accumulated through state-managed investment returns. The pension reform did not touch these funds; they can be paid out at the old retirement ages of 55 for women and 60 for men.

But what happens to this money if a person dies before reaching retirement age? Does it go to the state? Not if the family knows its rights.

Who has funded pension savings

The funded component applies to:

citizens born in 1967 or later who participated in the mandatory pension insurance system;
men born 1953–1966 and women born 1957–1966 for whom employers paid accumulative contributions between 2002 and 2004.

The key condition: the person died without having started to receive the funded pension. If payouts had already begun and the full amount was paid out — there is nothing left to inherit.

The money is not subject to personal income tax (NDFL) when received by heirs.

Who can receive the savings

Beneficiaries by written designation

During their lifetime, a person can go to the SFR or NPF and file a written statement naming any recipient — a relative, a friend, a partner — and specifying their share.

An important nuance: if you designate a specific sum for a friend (say, 200,000 roubles out of 673,000), the remaining 473,000 roubles do not vanish. They are automatically distributed among the first-priority legal heirs — as long as they apply in time.

Legal heirs (where no written designation exists)

Where no statement was filed, the funds are distributed in order of priority:

First priority: children, spouse, parents;
Second priority: siblings, grandparents, grandchildren.

Second-priority heirs apply only if there are no first-priority claimants.

Six months: the deadline you cannot miss

Beneficiaries must file an application with the SFR or NPF within six months of the date of death. This is separate from the six-month notarial deadline for accepting an inheritance under civil law — it is a stand-alone deadline for pension savings specifically.

Missing it by even one day triggers an automatic refusal. Restoring the deadline is possible only through the courts, and only with a valid reason. Courts have accepted ignorance of the existence of the savings as a valid reason in some cases — but this is not guaranteed.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1. Find out where the savings are held. Request a statement from the individual pension account (ILS) of the deceased through the Gosuslugi portal. It will show whether the money is held at the SFR or an NPF.

Step 2. Gather your documents.

Your passport;
death certificate;
proof of relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate);
SNILS (pension insurance number) of the deceased, if available.

Step 3. File an application. Apply in person at a local SFR office or at the NPF, through an MFC service centre, or through Gosuslugi. Six months starts from the date of death — not from the date you learned about the savings.

Step 4. Receive the decision. The fund reviews the application and transfers the funds to the beneficiary’s bank account.

When the fund will refuse

The six-month deadline has passed — the most common reason.
The funded pension was fully paid out to the deceased during their lifetime.
The applicant cannot document their relationship to the deceased.

Protecting your family’s money

If you want to be certain your savings go to a specific person, file a beneficiary designation at the SFR or NPF today. It is free, takes about 15 minutes, and eliminates all ambiguity for your loved ones.

If a relative has recently died and you do not know whether they had pension savings — start with a request for their ILS statement through Gosuslugi.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out whether a deceased relative had pension savings? Request a statement from the deceased’s individual pension account (ILS) through the Gosuslugi portal. The statement shows which fund — SFR or an NPF — holds the savings and their approximate size. This is the essential first step: without it you risk missing the six-month deadline.

If the deceased transferred their pension to an NPF, where should I apply? At the NPF that held the savings at the time of death. The relevant fund is identified in the ILS statement on Gosuslugi. The required documents are the same: your passport, the death certificate, proof of relationship, and the deceased’s SNILS number if available.

What if other relatives have already filed a claim for the savings? That is not an obstacle. Where no written beneficiary designation was filed, the funds are distributed among all first-priority heirs who apply within the deadline. File your application immediately — no later than 6 months from the date of death.

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Not sure whether a deceased relative had pension savings, or did you miss the six-month deadline? Get in touch — we can help you assess the situation and, where needed, prepare a court application to restore the deadline.

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