Income security in transition for the aged and children in the Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation.

A dynamic process of social security reform took place during the economic transition in the Soviet Union from 1985 through 1991, and in the Russian Federation in 1992. Despite administrative and financial difficulties, the Gorbachev reform objectives have been incorporated (with modest revisions) into the Russian Federation pension legislation and family allowance programs. Following the adoption of a radical economic reform policy in January 1992, policymakers in the Russian Federation have been hard pressed to meet rising social needs under severe fiscal constraints. As the number of the vulnerable population has increased, and as the emerging poor have had to face more severe hardships, the social security system has overcome unprecedented political and economic disruptions to become fully operational. Local governments and civic groups are organizing assistance to help meet needs where the State-operated programs have been inadequate. These efforts, however, have been made haphazardly.