Russian Pensioners Are to Use Digital ID Cards in the MAX App
The same option is already available to members of large families.
In Russia, pensioners and people with disabilities can now present an ID card based on a digital identity through the MAX mobile app. The document can be used as a full replacement for a paper ID, according to the Russian Labor Ministry.
Pensioners and people with disabilities will be able to show benefit eligibility cards generated from a digital ID inside the MAX app. Large families already use this option. The digital ID may be required to receive discounts, gain free entry to museums, or confirm eligibility for discounted public transport.
MAX Is More Than a Messenger
Earlier, the MAX messenger was described as part of Russia’s digital sovereignty strategy.
During a televised call-in session, President Vladimir Putin said that having homegrown platforms is what allows a country to claim full digital sovereignty. According to him, only three countries currently meet that definition: Russia, the United States, and China.
MAX was designed as an infrastructure messenger operating fully within Russia’s legal framework. Its defining features include servers located inside the country, compliance with national law, and the ability to integrate with government and corporate services. As a result, MAX is positioned not just as a messaging app, but as an element of digital independence, where the rules are set by the state.
