Mothers of Large Families

mothers with three or more children, for whom certain benefits have been established under Soviet labor legislation.

Women with two children receive a one-time payment at the birth of their third and each succeeding child, and a monthly payment with the birth of their fourth and each succeeding child, beginning with the child’s attainment of the age of one year, and continuing until the age of five years. According to law, payment is based on the number of natural and adopted children, including those of the husband, living with the mother and not yet having attained the age of 12. Mothers of large families also receive benefits related to child care in kindergartens and nurseries; payment is reduced by 25 to 50 percent, depending on the number of children and the parents’ total income.

Mothers of large families are also provided with benefits in the area of pension security. Thus women who have borne five or more children and raised them to the age of eight years receive the right to an old-age pension upon reaching age 50 with no less than 15 years of work experience, if they have not already qualified for such a pension at an earlier age. Special orders and medals have been established for mothers of large families; these include Mother-Heroine, Maternal Glory, and the Medal of Motherhood. Women who have borne and raised ten children receive the honorary designation of Mother-Heroine, the order of Mother-Heroine, and a certificate from the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.