Major Social Payment Reforms Set for Ukraine
A significant new phase in reforming Ukraine's social assistance system will take effect on February 1, 2026. The key changes involve reinstating targeted aid for children who are internally displaced persons (IDPs) and shifting to a system of basic social assistance for low-income families. Approximately 7 billion hryvnias will be allocated to support IDP children, with the monthly payment set at 3,000 hryvnias. These reforms are part of a broader effort to modernize the social safety net following years of conflict and economic strain.
Key Changes to the Social Assistance Framework
The reform establishes a new income threshold for IDP families, which will be 10,380 hryvnias, an increase from the previous threshold of 9,444 hryvnias. The base amount for social assistance will be set at 4,500 hryvnias. Crucially, 100% of this base amount (4,500 hryvnias) will be assigned to the first family member, as well as to children under 18 and individuals with a Group I or II disability. Other family members will be eligible to receive 70% of the base amount, equaling 3,150 hryvnias.
The new rules also define conditions under which payments may be suspended. Assistance can be halted if:
- Able-bodied individuals remain unemployed and are not registered with an employment center for over three months;
- Annual purchases exceed 100,000 hryvnias;
- Holdings in deposits or bonds exceed 100,000 hryvnias;
- The family owns a second property (excluding one in an active combat zone) or more than one car younger than 15 years.
Applications for social assistance can be submitted via the 'Diia' app in the 'Basic Social Assistance' section, through the Pension Fund portal, or in person at Administrative Service Centers (ASCs) and service centers of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. The reform aims to support the most vulnerable segments of the population and ensure a basic level of social protection for IDP children. This move reflects the government's ongoing commitment to adapt its support systems to the realities faced by millions of Ukrainians displaced by the war.