Fraud instances escalated during Russia's university admission process.
The Russian Ministry of Education and Science has issued a warning to students and their parents about the emergence of fake communities on Telegram, posing as the ministry's leadership. These fraudulent groups have been promising "guaranteed admission" to higher education institutions in exchange for a fee, a concern that has become more frequent during the admission campaign.
However, it remains unclear how many instances of these fraudulent activities have occurred, and the Ministry did not confirm if any applicants have fallen victim to these fake offers. The Ministry did not provide any information on the penalties for those found guilty of these activities either.
The Ministry's warning comes as a reminder to applicants and their parents to seek help and clarifications from the Ministry regarding suspicious situations involving fraudulent activities in messengers and social media. They can contact the Ministry through the information provided on their official website.
Meanwhile, the Ministry did not specify which institutions are targeted by these fraudulent activities. The Ministry also did not discuss the impact of a minor's part-time job on the family's income assessment for benefits.
Under Russian labor law, minors are allowed to work part-time with restrictions on hours and wages, but it does not explicitly state that a minor's earnings are included in family income for social benefit calculations. Russian social benefits, such as parental leave, child benefits, and social insurance, are mostly tied to formal income records and parental income as reported for tax or social insurance purposes, with no special mention of counting a minor’s part-time earnings as part of family income.
While it’s advisable to check specific regional or municipal regulations, the prevailing framework in Russia implies that a minor’s part-time job earnings do not materially impact the family’s social benefits income assessment. This is consistent with comparative systems, such as Finland’s Kela, which clearly exclude child income from benefit considerations.
In conclusion, it is essential for students and their parents to exercise caution during the admission campaign and be wary of fraudulent activities promising guaranteed admission to higher education institutions in exchange for a fee. They should also be aware that a minor’s part-time job earnings do not significantly affect the family’s social benefits income assessment in Russia.
It's crucial for students and their parents to be vigilant about fraudulent activities offering guaranteed admission to higher education institutions, especially on platforms like Telegram, which may require financial investment. While they should seek help from the Ministry's official website, they should also be aware that a child's part-time earnings from a job might not significantly affect the family's social benefits income assessment in Russia, as it is mainly based on formal income records and parental income.
