The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted in the first reading draft law No. 15094, which provides for the introduction of basic social assistance. After passing the second reading and final approval, the document will serve as the foundation for a new system of social support for the population.
This is reported by Business • Media
Essence of Basic Social Assistance
The Ministry of Social Policy has confirmed that the implementation of this draft law is a planned step. According to the new rules, basic social assistance is not an additional payment, but replaces several existing types of support. In particular, the new approach will consolidate assistance for low-income families, payments for single mothers, large families, temporary assistance for children whose parents evade alimony or whose place of residence is unknown, as well as support for individuals without pension rights and those with disabilities. When transitioning to basic assistance, all previous payments are automatically canceled, as they are integrated into the new system.
“The new payment is not additional, but consolidated. It will replace several existing types of support — assistance for low-income families, payments for single mothers and large families, temporary assistance for children whose parents evade alimony or whose place of residence is unknown, as well as assistance for individuals without pension rights and those with disabilities. When transitioning to basic assistance, all these payments are automatically discontinued — they are already included in the new system.”
Calculation and Registration of Basic Assistance
The amount of basic social assistance will be determined as the difference between the established basic level and the average monthly income of the family for the last quarter. The minimum amount of assistance will be 3,328 hryvnias, which corresponds to the minimum subsistence level for working-age individuals. Each year, this basic level will be enshrined in the law on the state budget and cannot be less than the minimum subsistence level as of January 1 of the corresponding year.
To receive the new payment, two applications must be submitted. The first is an application expressing the intention to apply for basic assistance, which includes the personal data of the applicant and the entire family. If the family agrees with the calculated amount, an application for the appointment of the payment is submitted. This application can be submitted by one of the family members, but it must be signed by all adult recipients.
Assistance may be denied if the family has a significant amount of real estate or has made expensive purchases that indicate a higher level of income than stated in the documents.