For September, it is necessary to decide: money or benefit. What to choose in order not to lose something important for health.

      Photo: IA SM-News, seaart.ai September 1 – IA SM.News. By October 1, 2026, federal beneficiaries need to decide in what form they want to receive the set of social services in 2027 — in kind or in cash. This decision is especially important for those who regularly receive prescription medications: refusing the medical part of the social services package (SSP) can significantly increase personal expenses.

      What is included in the set of social services

      The SSP is part of the monthly cash payment and is provided to federal beneficiaries. It includes three types of support. The first is the provision of medications and medical devices by prescription, and for children with disabilities, also specialized therapeutic nutrition. The second is sanatorium-resort treatment if there are medical indications. The third is free travel on suburban rail transport, as well as to and from the place of treatment. The recipient can keep the entire package in kind or replace only certain parts with cash. For example, they can keep free medications but refuse sanatorium-resort treatment and travel.

      How much can be received instead of services

      From February 1, 2026, the cash equivalent of the SSP is 1825.25 rubles per month, taking into account indexing. Of this amount, 1405.85 rubles is allocated for medications, medical devices, and specialized nutrition, 217.48 rubles for sanatorium-resort treatment, and another 201.92 rubles for transportation. At the same time, this is not a separate additional payment. The cash compensation is part of the monthly cash payment and is paid together with it.

      Why the decision needs to be made in advance

      An application to change the form of receiving the SSP must be submitted by October 1, 2026. The chosen option will take effect from January 1, 2027. If the recipient does not change anything, the previously chosen form will be automatically retained. However, after switching from the in-kind form to the cash form, it will not be possible to return to free services during 2027. Therefore, the decision should be made not only based on whether the beneficiary needs medications right now. It is more important to assess potential expenses throughout the entire next year.

      When it is more beneficial to retain benefits

      For a person who regularly receives expensive prescription medications, the in-kind form of the SSP may turn out to be significantly more advantageous than the cash compensation. For example, if several thousand rubles are spent monthly on necessary medications, the amount of 1405.85 rubles will not be able to fully replace such support. A similar situation arises with sanatorium-resort treatment: the actual cost of a voucher can significantly exceed its cash equivalent. Especially cautious consideration should be given to refusing medical benefits for people with chronic illnesses and those who regularly require prescription therapy. Even if the need for expensive medications is low today, health situations can change.

      In what cases can cash be chosen

      The cash option may be more convenient for those who hardly use specific services of the SSP. If the beneficiary does not receive expensive medications, does not need sanatorium-resort treatment, and rarely uses the provided free travel, the compensation allows them to manage this part of the payment independently. It is not necessary to choose only one option. The law provides for the possibility of partial refusal. For example, one can retain free medication provision but receive cash instead of a sanatorium voucher and travel.

      How to arrange the change

      An application can be submitted through "Gosuslugi", the personal account of the Social Fund of Russia, the client service of the SFR, or the MFC. Those who have already decided on the form of the SSP and do not want to change it do not need to submit a new application. Before refusing the medical part, beneficiaries should evaluate the cost of the medications they receive by prescription and compare it with the amount of cash compensation. If there are doubts, the decision can also be discussed with the attending physician.

      The main mistake is to consider only today's expenses

      Refusing the SSP sometimes seems advantageous: a person receives money monthly and can spend it at their discretion. However, such a calculation does not take into account the possible change in needs over the year.

      If free medications are indeed needed, their cost can significantly exceed the amount of compensation. Therefore, before submitting an application, it is important to consider not only the current situation but also the regularity of treatment, the cost of medications, and the likelihood of additional medical expenses. The main rule is simple: if subsidized medications are used regularly and are expensive, refusing the medical part of the SSP just for a small monthly increase is usually unprofitable. If a specific service is not used, it makes sense to consider partial refusal and retain those benefits that are truly necessary.

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      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

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