The project for issuing a universal electronic card (UEC) to Russians was launched in 2013. Despite the fact that it has been implemented for two years now, many Russians have a vague idea of its functionality.
Initially, the purpose of creating the UEC was to provide easier access to public services, the ability to save time on personal visits to government agencies, and the elimination of the corruption component in obtaining public services. But as the development progressed, the functionality of the universal electronic map was expanded and today it includes the following features:
- Identification. UEC should become an analogue of an identity card.
- Payment. The card can be used to pay for government services, as well as a fully functional card to pay for goods in stores.
- EDS. UEC can be used as a signature when sending documents remotely. EDS allows you to sign important documents remotely without a personal visit to the required institution.
UEC as a means of identification
UEC contains information about citizens necessary for obtaining public services: full name, date of birth, SNILS, compulsory medical insurance policy, etc. With the help of UEC, you can register on the portal of public services, make an appointment with a doctor, transfer residential premises to non-residential, register in the queue for housing, get child care allowance and other important services. In some regions, citizens have the opportunity to record a citizen's medical history on the UEC.
UEC as a payment instrument
UEC can be used as a full-fledged payment instrument through the PRO100 system. Using the card, you can not only pay for government services, but also buy goods in stores, withdraw cash, and remotely manage your account. In some regions, discounts are provided for UEC. You can receive a scholarship, salary, pension, etc. on the card.
To be able to use the UEC as a bank card, you must select the issuing bank that will provide the specified functionality. Their list is still limited. Information about issuing banks can be obtained on the website of OJSC "UEC".
UEC as a transport card
UEC can replace a travel ticket. To do this, you need to activate its transport application. The card can be used to pay for travel on public transport. At the same time, the cost of one trip will be cheaper than with traditional payment.
It should be noted that so far only a limited number of government and banking services are available to cardholders. But in the future, it is expected that it will be possible to register a marriage, obtain a birth certificate for a child, choose a cable TV operator, etc.
Is a universal electronic card required?
Many Russians are concerned about the question of whether UEC is obligatory. No, not required. Moreover, it could have been abandoned by the end of 2014. But even now, the card is issued only on the basis of a personal statement and the presence of a citizen. It turns out that the card cannot be issued without an application.
Where to get a universal electronic card
The points of issue of the universal electronic card are open all over Russia. You can find out about their location on the official website of OJSC "UEC", or on specialized regional portals. It is possible to apply for the release of the UEC only with a personal visit.
Reviews about UEC
According to reviews of the universal electronic card, in practice, the project is not as cloudless as expected.
For example, the Tula region has become a leader in terms of the number of applications for the UEC issue. Such activity of the Tula residents was caused by a low interest in the possibilities of the card. The fact is that since 2015 the fare has been significantly increased, and only UEC owners have the right to pay at the old prices. However, in practice it turned out that the transport application of the map works with great interruptions. And many were never able to pay for travel with a card. The Tula region is far from the only region where there are problems with paying for travel using the UEC, since it is not always read by validators.
In some regions, the bank card application is still not available, and not every outlet accepts payment through PRO100. Also, to gain access to public services using the UEC, you need to buy a card reader. They are not available everywhere and are still quite expensive (about 1000 rubles). As a means of identification, the card is also not accepted everywhere. That is, for many of its owners, UEC is still just plastic.
